The uptake of key Essential Nutrition Action (ENA) messages and its predictors among mothers of children aged 6–24 months in Southern Ethiopia, 2021: A community-based crossectional study

Abstract

Background Essential nutrition action(ENA) is a framework for managing advocacy, establishing a foundation, and implementing a comprehensive package of preventive nutritional activities. Essential Nutrition Actions study studies provide current information on each nutrition action, allowing health systems to focus more on nutrition, which is critical in tackling the "double burden" of malnutrition: underweight and overweight. Hence, this study aimed at assessing the level of ENA practice and its predictors among mothers of children aged 6 to 24 months in southern Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 1 to 30, 2021 among randomly selected 633 mothers of children aged 6–24 months. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to access study participants. Data were collected by using a pretested, structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. To identify predictors of ENA practice, bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were used. The strength of the association was measured using an adjusted odds ratio with 95 percent confidence intervals. The statistical significance was declared at a p-value less than 0.05. Results A total of 624 participants took part in the study, with a response rate of 98.6%. The uptake of key ENA messages among mothers was measured using 27 items, and it was found to be 47.4% (95% CI: 43.8, 51.4). Complementary feeding was the commonest ENA message practiced by 66.7% of respondents, while prevention of iodine deficiency disorder was practiced by only 33.7% of respondents. Variables namely, mother’s education level of college and above [AOR: 3.90, 95% CI: 1.79, 8.51], institutional delivery [AOR: 2.75, 95% CI: 1.17,6.49], having PNC service [AOR: 2.95, 95% CI: 1.91, 4.57], being knowledgeable on ENA message [AOR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.81, 3.26] and being a model household [AOR: 3.83,95% CI: 2.58, 5.69] were positively associated with a good uptake of key ENA messages. On the other hand, primiparity [AOR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.21,0.56] was identified as a negative predictor. Conclusion The overall practice of key Essential nutrition action messages in the study area was low as compared to studies. Stakeholders must step up their efforts to improve and hasten the utilization of maternal and child health services, especially institutional delivery and Postnatal care by focusing on uneducated women to promote compliance to key ENA messages. Furthermore, health workers need to focus on awareness-raising and model household creation.

Uptake of Preventive Nutrition Interventions among Caretakers of Children under 5 years in a pastoral setting of South Sudan

“…Positive nutrition outcomes have been reported over a ten-year period across Africa attributed to nutrition education [21]. A similar study in Ethiopia showed that knowledge about nutrition interventions, in this case, ENAs was associated with higher uptake of the interventions [22].…”

Practice of key essential nutrition action messages and associated factors among mothers of children aged six months to two years old in Karat town, Konso zone, South Ethiopia, 2024: a community-based cross-sectional study

“…The sample size of the study was determined using the single population proportion formula. Taking into account a 95% confidence interval (CI) and a 5% margin of error (d), along with a prevalence rate of 47.4% for the practice of key ENA messages among mothers from a study in Lemo District, Southern Ethiopia ( 27 ), and accounting in a 10% non-response rate, the final sample size was 421.…”

“…Data collected for this study were obtained through a paper-based approach. A structured, pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used, which was adapted from previous studies ( 26 , 27 ). Additionally, participants’ wealth status was evaluated using a tool consisting of 37 items adapted from EDHS ( 29 ).…”

“…Key ENA messages- A total of 27 items were used to assess the practice of key ENA messages and response categories for each practice assessment question were formed as “1 = correct response” and “0 = incorrect response”. A composite index of ENA practice was calculated, with zero indicating that women did not practice any ENAs and 27 indicating that those women practiced all ENA ( 26 , 27 ).…”

“…Previous studies in Ethiopia highlighted poor ENA practices, with factors such as educational status, monthly income, parity, place of birth, utilization of postnatal care services, level of knowledge, and attitude significantly influencing maternal practices ( 26 , 27 ).…”