Factors determining complementary feeding practices of infants 6-11 months born of adolescent mothers in Moroto district, Uganda; a cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Introduction: The world health organization recommends complementary feeding which is a process of introducing a breastfeeding infant to additional sources of nutrition, which could be other foods and liquids rather than only breast milk. Usually, this is initiated from the age of six months (UNICEF., 2011) as this will meet the evolving energy needs of the growing infant. Little evidence exists on factors determining complementary feeding practices in pastoralist community in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to determine complementary feeding factors of infants aged 6-11 months born of adolescent mothers in Moroto district. Methods: A multifacility-based cross-sectional study among 177 adolescent mothers with 6-11 months old infants was conducted from 1st -31st July 2020 in Moroto district. We employed purposive and stratified random sampling for selecting health facilities and systematic sampling in selecting participants. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used for collecting the data. Univariate, cross tabulation, bivariate and multivariate analyses were employed using STATA 14.2 as data was presented in tabular form. Results: The mean age of adolescent mothers was 18.7 years and that of the infants was 7.8 months. A high proportion (88%) of infants were introduced on solid, semi-solid and/or soft foods from 6 months, 98% with continued breastfeeding. The minimum dietary diversity reached a proportion of 28% of infants and 58% ate less than 3 meals in a day during the 24 hours prior to interview. Adolescent mothers from rural settings (AOR=0.22; 95% CI: 0.06-0.81, p<0.05), grandmothers and adolescent mothers influence on decision of choice of food (AOR=0.29; 95% CI: 0.10-0.76, p<0.05 and AOR=0.25; 95% CI: 0.09-0.64, p<0.01 respectively) were less likely to attain minimum dietary diversity (MDD) whereas mothers with primary level of education (AOR=2.5; 95% CI: 1.05-5.84, p<0.05) were more likely to attain MDD. Young mothers (15-19) were less likely to achieve minimum meal frequency (MMF) (AOR=0.13; 95% CI: 0.04-0.40, p<0.001) and mothers who took farming as an occupation were 7 times more likely to achieve MMF (AOR=7.0; 95% CI: 2.35-20.61, p<0.001). Conclusion: This study shows that the proportion of infants with recommended minimum dietary diversity was still very low. Furthermore, maternal social demographic factors of residence, age, occupation, education level and influence on food choice were the factors that were more likely determining complementary feeding practices.