EFFECTIVENESS OF NUTRITION COUNSELING IN IMPROVING FEEDING PRACTICES OF CHILDREN IN FOUR REGIONS OF ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition is an underlying cause of death for more than 3.5 million children under the age of five each year globally. In Ethiopia according to 2019 EDHS, 7% of children were wasted, 1% severely wasted, 37% stunted, and 12% severely stunted. There are a number of proven nutrition specific interventions which can eliminate large number of deaths. Health workers and health extension workers were trained in key maternal, infant and young child feeding practices/messages, negotiation, and interpersonal communication skills, including complementary feeding demonstration. They counseled mothers on correct feeding practices.

Objective: to monitor the changes in feeding practice of children after nutrition counseling in four regions of Ethiopia supported by Integrated Family Health Program (IFHP).

Methods: Cross sectional surveys were conducted annually, January to March 2011-2016. Data were collected using standard checklists, containing selected questions on child feeding practices in 2,500 randomly selected households. Data entered and analyzed using SPSS16.0 version.

Results: Women who received ferrous sulphate with folic acid during pregnancy more than doubled in five years (from 39.1% to 88.4%), Early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth increased from 70.4 to 91.3%, exclusively breastfed from 57.7% to 84.6%.Children who started complementary feeding at age of six months increased from 60.8% to 81.3%,(p-0.0001), Children 6-11 months who ate solid/semisolid 2-3 times a day from 55.7% –to 62.6% (P= 0.02),12 -23 months of age who ate solid/semisolid 3-4 times a day increased from 61% to 74.7%. Children 6-59 months of age who received vitamin A capsule in the last six months from 86.5% to 92.6%
(P<0.0001).

Conclusion: Counseling mothers on breast feeding and complementary feeding at different contacts using Essential Nutrition Action (ENA) and complementary feeding demonstration at health facility and community level have brought improvement in child feeding practices..