Child nutritional status, mothers’ nutritional knowledge and practice and Household food security status in Tehuledere Woreda, South Wollo, Ethiopia

Abstract

Child under nutrition due to household food insecurity remains critical issues in many households in Ethiopia. Literature in nutrition knowledge and practice of mothers and the nutritional status of their infants is scanty. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of six to 23-month-oldchildren, mothers’ knowledge, attitude and practice of child nutrition and household food security status in a semi-urban and a rural kebeles. A community based cross-sectional study was undertaken in semi-urban and rural kebeles in Tehuledere Woreda (district) to assess household food security and nutritional status of six to 23-month children. A total of 245 mother-child pairs were selected randomly from the two kebeles. Anthropometric indices were used to determine the nutritional status of under-two children. Child age, weight and height were measured and used to calculate weight-for-age, weight-for-height and height-for-age Z-scores. Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (ciaf) was calculated to determine total malnutrition. Household food insecurity access scale (hfias) was used to assess food security status. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data on mothers’ knowledge, attitude and practice in child nutrition, food diversity and child feeding. Data were statistically analyzed. Stunting was noted in 7.5% and 17% of under-two children in the urban and rural kebeles, respectively. Similar levels of thinness (6%) were observed in both kebeles. There were more under-weight children in the semi-urban (5.2%) than in the rural (3.6%) kebeles. Chronic energy deficiency was noted in 20% and 15% of the children in semi-urban and rural kebeles, respectively. ciaf was higher in children in the semi-urban kebele (48%) than in the rural kebele (31%). A small proportion of study households were food secure (17.9%). The rest were either mildly (54.4%) or moderately (27.8%) food insecure. Average knowledge of child nutrition among mothers in the semi-urban and rural kebeles was very low (about 34% and 37%, respectively).The low anthropometric measurements of the children in this study could be due to poor food diversity, insufficient food intake, and poor nutritional knowledge and practice of mothers. Creating awareness in child feeding practices and diet diversity is recommended.