Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Appropriate Complementary Feeding among Mothers of Children Age 6-23 Months in Gununo Town, Damot Sore Woreda, Wolaita Zone, Southern, Ethiopia, 2016

Abstract

Background- Inappropriate complementary feeding practices are a major contributor to poor nutrition status among children under two in Ethiopia. Encouraging and supporting appropriate complementary feeding practices for children under age two are critical elements of efforts to address malnutrition.Objectives –to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of complementary feeding among mother of children age 6-23 Gununo town, Damot Sore Woreda Wolaita zone southern, Ethiopia.Methods–community based cross sectional study was conducted in Gununo town, Damot Sore Woreda Wolaita zone, southern, Ethiopia.A pre-tested structure questionnaire was prepared to obtain necessary information after getting both written and verbal consent from concerned bodies. The data was collected by using quantitative methods. The collected data was checked daily for the completeness and consistency. Calculation of proportion and other appropriate statistical tests was done and interpretation was reached accordingly. Results -About 212(90.6%) of respondents know when to start feeding including less than, at and greater than six months. Most respondents 175(74.8%) know with what kind of food to start with;58(33,1%) cow milk, followed by cereal based food, 35(20%) fruits and vegtables,13(7.4%) infant formula and 8(4.6 %) butter.194(82.9%) know when to stop breast feeding. Mother were assessed with the practice of complementary breast feeding on the youngest child;105(45%) started at six months and 14(6%) immediately after birth. Conclusion and recommendation-One hundred five (45%) of mothers got information on complementary feeding in their last pregnancy or upon delivery. 180(77%) of mothers  know the benefit of complementary feeding for the child and 120(51%) them for mother herself. 105(45%) of mothers started complementary feeding at six months of age and 98(42%) started with muk . All members of the community, policy makers, NGOs, local government should work in collaboration with woreda health office and health center to minimize and remove down sides of mothers on knowledge, attitudes and practices about appropriate complementary feeding.

Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and appropriate complementary