Knowledge and Practices Associated With Complementary Feeding Among Young Children Attending Gambool Health Centre, Garowe District, Puntland State, Somalia

Abstract

According to scientific research on newborn and young child feeding habits from underdeveloped nations, advancement is attainable with the use of efficient tactics and adequate resources. The health of children is still being compromised by substantial gaps in supplemental nutrition, nevertheless. Current studies on complementary feeding techniques and how they affect young children's nutritional status in Garowe, Somalia. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to determine knowledge and practices associated with complementary feeding among young children attending Gambool Health Centre, Garowe District, Puntland State, Somalia. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 405 mothers with children aged 6-23 months attending Gambool Health Centre, Garowe District, Puntland State, Somalia. Data was collected using both quantitative and qualitative methods. A structured household questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from mothers of infants and young children aged 6-23 months. Data on demographic characteristics of the household, hygiene and sanitation, feeding practices, and maternal nutrition knowledge. Food frequency and dietary diversity questionnaires were used to obtain data on food patterns, and anthropometric techniques were used to determine the nutrition status of the study children. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze. Normal test proportions were determined for socio-demographic and socio-economic variables. Chi-square was used for the analysis of the relationships between maternal knowledge on complementary feeding practice and other variables. Mean score and knowledge z-score was computed and used to group the respondents into three knowledge groups; low, moderate, and high knowledge score. The study results showed the study population had medium socioeconomic status and the majority of the households were living at moderate wealth levels. Mother’s knowledge on child complementary feeding practices was average at 58.2%, about 8.8% had low knowledge and 33% had high knowledge. About 85% of mothers had knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding while 79.8% knew about continued breastfeeding up to 2 years, 31% had knowledge of the frequency of breastfeeding and 42.5% of the mothers were exclusively breastfeeding and 71.8% of mothers breastfed their children on demand. About 10% of the children were stunted, 22.9% were wasting, and 19.2% were underweight. There was a significant relationship between maternal knowledge on complementary feeding and the household income (p=0.003). There was a significant relationship between child exclusive breastfeeding and wasting (p=0.001) and underweight (p=0.030). There was no significant relationship between maternal knowledge on complementary feeding and education (p=0.393) and mothers/caregiver's marital status (p=0.493). In conclusion, the prevalence of under-nutrition is still high among the children and is influenced by maternal knowledge on complementary feeding practices and also the complementary feeding practices.