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Introduction of Complementary Foods to Infants within the First Six Months and Associated Factors in Rural Communities of JimmaArjo

Received: 15 March 2013    Accepted:     Published: 10 March 2013
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Abstract

Background: Although breastfeeding is one of the components of Primary Health Care in Ethiopia, a wide range of harmful infant feeding practices are documented even after the implementation of infant and young child feeding guidelines. However, no studies were documented about complementary feeding patterns and factors associated with early introduction of complementary feeding in the study area. Methods and Materials: Community based cross-sectional study was carried out in JimmaArjoWoreda from December to January 2009. Quantitative data were collected from a sample of 382 respondents supplemented by qualitative data generated using in-depth interviews of 15 key informants.Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Binary logistic regressions were used to measure the strength of association between independent and dependent variables using odds ratios and 95% of confidence intervals. Finally, multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to identify the predictors of early introduction of complementary food.Results: About 42.9% of mothers initiated complementary feeding before 6 months. The majority of mothers early initiated complementary feeding since they believed that breast milk was insufficient and influences from social beliefs. Findings from this study showed that young maternal age, child age below 1 month, child age 1-2 months, breastfeeding initiation within the first hour of child birth, having information about exclusive breastfeeding and maternal attitude about the dietary importance of breast milk for their children were negatively associated with early introduction of complementary food. However, lack of sufficient time with their children was one of predisposing factor for early introduction of the additional food before 6 months. Conclusions: Findings from this study showed that 42.9% of mothers introduced complementary food before 6 months. As this can cause malnutrition and exposure to different types of infections, the contributing factors to early introduction of complementary food should be taken into account while designing intervention strategies. In addition promotion of strong community based networks using Health Extension Workers and local community’s resource people as key actors is important to tackle this problem.

Published in International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20130202.18
Page(s) 77-84
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Introduction, Complementary, JimmaArjo, Breastfeeding

References
[1] UNICEF and WHO. 2003. Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding, Geneva, Switzerland.
[2] WHO. 2001. Report of the global consultation on Summary of guiding principles forcomplementary feeding of the breastfed child, Geneva Switzerland.
[3] Federal ministry of health. 2005. National strategy for child survival in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa Ethiopia, Family health department publications.
[4] Bernadette Daelmans, Jose Martines, and RandaSaadeh. 2003. Special Issue Base World Health Organization Expert Consultation on Complementary Feeding. Food and Nutrition Bulletin; 24(1): 3-141.
[5] Tefera Belachew.2003. Human Nutrition for Health Science Students Jimma. Public Health Department.
[6] WHO and UNICEF. 2OO8. Strengthening action to improve feeding of infants and young children 6-23 months of age in nutrition and child health programmes
[7] WHO and UNICEF. 2OO9. Breastfeeding promotion and support in a baby-friendly hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
[8] Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance Project (FANTA). 2006. Working Group on Infant and Young Child Feeding Indicators.
[9] WHO.2010.http://www.who.int/entity/mediacentre/news/ breastfeeding
[10] Daniel J Raiten al. 2007. Maternal nutrition and optimal infant feeding practices. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; 85(2): 577-583
[11] Gretel H. Pelto, Emily Levitt, and Lucy Thairu. 2003. Improving feeding practices:Current patterns, common constraints, and the design of interventions. Division of Nutritional Sciences; 24(1): 45-57.
[12] Altrena G. Mukuria, Monica T. Kothari and NoureddineAbderrahim. 2006. Infant and Young Child Feeding Update, ORC Macro Calverton, Maryland, USA.
[13] Erik Bohler, IsatouJallowSemega-Janneh, Halvor Holm, Ingrid Matheson and GerdHolmboe-Ottesen. 2001. Promoting breastfeeding in rural Gambia: combining traditional and modern knowledge. Health policy and planning; 16(2):199-205.
[14] R Kruger and GJ Gericke. 2002. A qualitative exploration of rural feeding and weaning practices, knowledge and attitudes on nutrition in South Africa. Public Health Nutrition; 6(2):217–223.
[15] Tonse N. K. RAJU. 2006. Continued barriers for breast-feeding in public and the workplace. The Journal of Pediatrics; 148:677-9.
[16] Federal ministry of health. 2007. Integrated management of new born and child hood illness, Addis, Ababa Ethiopia.
[17] Federal Ministry of Health. 2008. Program Implementation Manual of National Nutrition Program (NNP). Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[18] Central Statistical Authority and ORC Macro. 2012. Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey 2011. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Calverton, Maryland.
[19] Jane A Scott et al. 2009. Predictors of the early introduction of solid foods in infants: results of a cohort study. BMC Pediatrics, 9:60.
[20] Inayati et al. 2012. Infant feeding practices among mildly wasted children: a retrospective study on Nias Island, Indonesia. International Breastfeeding Journal 7:3.
[21] Eli Fjeld et al. 2008. No sister, the breast alone is not enough for my baby' a qualitative assessment of potentials and barriers in the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding in southern Zambia. International Breastfeeding Journal, 3:26.
[22] Agho et al.: Determinants of exclusive breastfeeding in Nigeria. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 2011 11:2.
[23] Tewodros et.al. 2009. Determinants of exclusive breastfeeding practices in Ethiopia. Ethiop.J.HealthDev.23:1.
[24] Federal Ministry of Health. 2004. National strategy for infant and young child feeding. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[25] Haider et al. 2010. Breastfeeding in infancy: identifying the program-relevant issues in Bangladesh. International Breastfeeding Journal 5:21.
[26] Bhatt Shwetal et al. 2012. Knowledge, attitude and practice of postnatal mothers for early initiation of breast feeding in the obstetric wards of a tertiary care hospital of Vadodara city 3(2):305-309
[27] Ojo M Agunbiade and Opeyemi V Ogunleye.2012. Constraints to exclusive breastfeeding practice among breastfeeding mothers in Southwest Nigeria: implications for scaling up. International Breastfeeding Journal 7:5.
[28] Ingunn et al. 2007. Low adherence to exclusive breastfeeding in Eastern Uganda: A community-based cross-sectional study comparing dietary recall since birth with 24-hour recall. BMC Pediatrics, 7:10.
[29] Jimma Arjo Woreda Adminstration Office. 2008. JimmaArjo Woreda population and housing census document, East Wollega.
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    Dessalegn Tamiru, Dayan Aragu, Tefera Belachew. (2013). Introduction of Complementary Foods to Infants within the First Six Months and Associated Factors in Rural Communities of JimmaArjo. International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences, 2(2), 77-84. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20130202.18

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    ACS Style

    Dessalegn Tamiru; Dayan Aragu; Tefera Belachew. Introduction of Complementary Foods to Infants within the First Six Months and Associated Factors in Rural Communities of JimmaArjo. Int. J. Nutr. Food Sci. 2013, 2(2), 77-84. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20130202.18

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    AMA Style

    Dessalegn Tamiru, Dayan Aragu, Tefera Belachew. Introduction of Complementary Foods to Infants within the First Six Months and Associated Factors in Rural Communities of JimmaArjo. Int J Nutr Food Sci. 2013;2(2):77-84. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20130202.18

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijnfs.20130202.18,
      author = {Dessalegn Tamiru and Dayan Aragu and Tefera Belachew},
      title = {Introduction of Complementary Foods to Infants within the First Six Months and Associated Factors in Rural Communities of JimmaArjo},
      journal = {International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences},
      volume = {2},
      number = {2},
      pages = {77-84},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijnfs.20130202.18},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20130202.18},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnfs.20130202.18},
      abstract = {Background: Although breastfeeding is one of the components of Primary Health Care in Ethiopia, a wide range of harmful infant feeding practices are documented even after the implementation of infant and young child feeding guidelines. However, no studies were documented about complementary feeding patterns and factors associated with early introduction of complementary feeding in the study area. Methods and Materials: Community based cross-sectional study was carried out in JimmaArjoWoreda from December to January 2009. Quantitative data were collected from a sample of 382 respondents supplemented by qualitative data generated using in-depth interviews of 15 key informants.Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Binary logistic regressions were used to measure the strength of association between independent and dependent variables using odds ratios and 95% of confidence intervals. Finally, multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to identify the predictors of early introduction of complementary food.Results: About 42.9% of mothers initiated complementary feeding before 6 months. The majority of mothers early initiated complementary feeding since they believed that breast milk was insufficient and influences from social beliefs. Findings from this study showed that young maternal age, child age below 1 month, child age 1-2 months, breastfeeding initiation within the first hour of child birth, having information about exclusive breastfeeding and maternal attitude about the dietary importance of breast milk for their children were negatively associated with early introduction of complementary food. However, lack of sufficient time with their children was one of predisposing factor for early introduction of the additional food before 6 months. Conclusions: Findings from this study showed that 42.9% of mothers introduced complementary food before 6 months. As this can cause malnutrition and exposure to different types of infections, the contributing factors to early introduction of complementary food should be taken into account while designing intervention strategies. In addition promotion of strong community based networks using Health Extension Workers and local community’s resource people as key actors is important to tackle this problem.},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Introduction of Complementary Foods to Infants within the First Six Months and Associated Factors in Rural Communities of JimmaArjo
    AU  - Dessalegn Tamiru
    AU  - Dayan Aragu
    AU  - Tefera Belachew
    Y1  - 2013/03/10
    PY  - 2013
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20130202.18
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20130202.18
    T2  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    JF  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    JO  - International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences
    SP  - 77
    EP  - 84
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2327-2716
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnfs.20130202.18
    AB  - Background: Although breastfeeding is one of the components of Primary Health Care in Ethiopia, a wide range of harmful infant feeding practices are documented even after the implementation of infant and young child feeding guidelines. However, no studies were documented about complementary feeding patterns and factors associated with early introduction of complementary feeding in the study area. Methods and Materials: Community based cross-sectional study was carried out in JimmaArjoWoreda from December to January 2009. Quantitative data were collected from a sample of 382 respondents supplemented by qualitative data generated using in-depth interviews of 15 key informants.Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Binary logistic regressions were used to measure the strength of association between independent and dependent variables using odds ratios and 95% of confidence intervals. Finally, multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to identify the predictors of early introduction of complementary food.Results: About 42.9% of mothers initiated complementary feeding before 6 months. The majority of mothers early initiated complementary feeding since they believed that breast milk was insufficient and influences from social beliefs. Findings from this study showed that young maternal age, child age below 1 month, child age 1-2 months, breastfeeding initiation within the first hour of child birth, having information about exclusive breastfeeding and maternal attitude about the dietary importance of breast milk for their children were negatively associated with early introduction of complementary food. However, lack of sufficient time with their children was one of predisposing factor for early introduction of the additional food before 6 months. Conclusions: Findings from this study showed that 42.9% of mothers introduced complementary food before 6 months. As this can cause malnutrition and exposure to different types of infections, the contributing factors to early introduction of complementary food should be taken into account while designing intervention strategies. In addition promotion of strong community based networks using Health Extension Workers and local community’s resource people as key actors is important to tackle this problem.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Public Health Department, Arbaminch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia

  • Departmentof Population and Family Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia

  • Public Health Department, Arbaminch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia

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