ABSTRACT

The study focuses on the practices of complimentary feeding in Ethio-Somali region using a mixed method study. Time to initiate complementary feeding is the time at which when breast milk or infant formula alone is no longer sufficient to meet the nutritional requirements of infants therefore other solid and semisolid foods and liquids are needed, along with breast milk or a breast milk substitute. The study has focused on the analysis of the way in which complimentary feeding was practiced. The study revealed all most one third (26.8%) of the respondents initiated complementary feeding early (before 6 months).Whilst (241, 67.89%) and (19, 5.35%) of the respondents introduced complementary feeding close to timely (6- 9 months) and lately above 9 months. This study also disclosed less than ten percent (24, 6.8%) of the children meet minimum dietary diversity in agro-pastoral communities of Somali region. Further the study evidenced that mother’s characteristics like unemployment and postnatal care flow up are the predictors of early initiation of complementary feeding: [2.39, 1.14 -5.02] and [0.54, 0.32-0.91]. Moreover this study showed mother’s absence in the home is a main reason for early initiation of complementary feeding in Agro-pastoral communities in Ethio-somali region according to qualitative study.

https://ijbpas.com/pdf/2019/February/MS_IJBPAS_2019_4639.pdf

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https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2019/8.2.4639