Factors Influencing Child Feeding Practices Among Caregivers of Children 6-23 Months in Ngamba Sub County, Bundibugyo District 2016./

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: This study assessed factors influencing child feeding practices among caregivers of children aged 6-23 months of Ngamba Sub County, of Bundibugyo district as per WHO IYCF guidelines. Design: A community based cross sectional Study design was conducted among 320 caregivers of children aged6-23 months who were sampled using multistage and purposive sampling techniques to find study subjects from villages in Ngamba Sub county. Data collection was got using questionnaire and Focus Group Discussions and analyzed using STATA analysis package at a confidence interval (CI) of 95%. Results: A response rate of 96.4% (320/332) was registered with practices of continued breastfeeding, timely initiation of complementary feeding and minimum acceptable diet performing at 85%, 54% and 63% respectively. Caregivers who were 30 years or older with an education level of ‘O’ level and above, married earning more than 100,000shs per month and not knowing any cultural belief about child feeding were more likely to practice appropriate child feeding. Inadequate food availability to always support child feeding practices negatively associated to inappropriate practices among caregivers. Coping mechanisms to food scarcity was buying and borrowing which majority caregivers didn’t afford thus not meeting minimum acceptable diet for that age. ((WHO, 2011), Being housewives from a mother headed household and earning more than 100,000shs were independent factors positively associated to continued breastfeeding up to 2 years. Caregivers who practiced timely complementary feeding had 60% of their children more likely to survive stunting while continued breastfed children were 64% less likely to suffer stunting.

Conclusions: Inappropriate complementary feeding practices were detected among caregivers with lower education levels, single marital status, low income earners and young caregivers while continued breast feeding was inappropriately practiced among caregivers above 30 years with primary education, from a Household with five or more members. Child nutrition and appropriate IYCF messages are recommended for these categories of caregivers to improve the practices, backed with constant sufficient availability of diversified food at households.