Dietary Diversity in Young Children in Ethiopia
Author Information
Author(s): Mulatu Sileshi, Ejigu Lemessa Jira, Dinku Habtamu, Tadesse Fikir, Gedif Azeb, Salah Fekiahmed, Workie Hailemariam Mekonnen
Primary Institution: Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia
Hypothesis
What factors are associated with dietary diversity among children aged 6–23 months in Awi Zone, Ethiopia?
Conclusion
The study found that nearly half of the children had inadequate dietary diversity, influenced by maternal education, birth intervals, and food insecurity.
Supporting Evidence
- Only 47.6% of children had adequate dietary diversity.
- Maternal education was a significant predictor of dietary diversity.
- Food insecurity negatively impacted children's dietary diversity.
Takeaway
Many young children in Ethiopia aren't eating a variety of foods, which is important for their growth. Things like how educated their mothers are and whether the family has enough food can make a big difference.
Methodology
A community-based cross-sectional study design was used, with simple random sampling and face-to-face interviews to assess dietary diversity through a 24-hour food recall method.
Potential Biases
Potential recall bias in dietary practices and predictors.
Limitations
The cross-sectional design limits the ability to establish causality, and recall bias may affect dietary reporting accuracy.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 403 mothers with children aged 6–23 months, with a response rate of 99.26%. The majority were Orthodox Christians, and many mothers had low educational levels.
Statistical Information
P-Value
≤0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI (1.30, 3.96); 95% CI (1.45, 4.25); 95% CI (1.63, 3.10)
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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