Nutritional status among children aged 6 to 23 and mothers knowledge on complementary feeding practices in selected villages of chamwino District

Abstract

Adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood is fundamental to the development of each child's full human potential. During the period of complementary feeding, children are at high risk of under nutrition. Complementary food is the additional nutrient-rich food and drink that is recommended for children from six months of life. This study aimed at studying nutritional status by using criteria of stunting and underweight among children of 6 to 23 months. Also the study aimed to ascertain whether mother's knowledge on complementary feeding practices and other factors were associated with nutritional status of these children in Chamwino district. This was a cross-sectional study done in Chamwino district, involving mothers of children aged six to 23 months who were attending RCH clinic. Total sample size was 264. Anthropometric measurements using weight-for-age and height-for-age criterion were employed to assess the nutritional status. Chi-square test was used to examine the association between the dependent and independent variables. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine independent variables that predict nutritional status. The study showed that (62.9%) were stunted and (17.l %) were underweight. Majority of mothers (65%) were found with moderate knowledge on complementary feeding practices followed by (28%) in poor and (7%) in high knowledge categories. The most common type of complementary foods was grains food and green vegetables. There was a statistically significant association between fever and underweight. Nutrition should be improved at this age, in order to have beneficial effects on growth and health of children. There is an urgent need to improve traditional complementary foods in terms of energy density and bioavailability of macro and micronutrients. Efforts should also be undertaken to mobilize the community members to adopt practices that favor good nutrition of children.