Abstract:
Background: Every day, 3000 - 4000 infants die in the developing world from diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections because they are given inadequate amounts of breast milk or complementary food. However, the burden and associated factors of sick child feeding practice is not understood in Finote selam Town.
Objective: The main aim of this study was to assess sick child feeding practice and associated factors among women having child less than 2 years of age attending at Finote Selam general hospistal 2020.
Methods: Institution based, cross sectional study was conducted among 420 mothers from
October 25 to November 25 2020 at Finote selam general hospital. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. SPSS version 23 software was used for analysis Bivariable and multivariable analysis was done to test the relationship between the predictor and outcome variables and the odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and p-value was used to ascertain statistical significance.
Result: Only 18.1% (95% CI: 14.3%, 21.9%) of mothers feed their child more frequently during childhood illness. On the multivariable logistic regression analyses, maternal age (25-34 years old) [AOR = 2.16, 95% CI: (0.76, 6.13)], being food secure [AOR = 2.18, 95% CI: (1.05, 5.33)], maternal education (secondary school and above) [AOR = 1.84, 95% CI: (0.86, 3.92)], mothers who had counseled about child feeding during their antenatal care visit [AOR = 1.8, 95% CI: (0.88, 3.69)] and paternal education (secondary school and above) [AOR=5.05, 95% CI: (2.52,9.02)] were significantly associated with good sick child feeding practice.
Conclusion: The feeding practices of mothers in the study area during common childhood illness were found poor. Hence, strengthening a health and nutrition counseling on infant and young child feeding during maternal antenatal care services are recommended.
Key Words: Sick child, mothers, feeding practice, Finote selam hospital