Complementary feeding practices and its determinants among children aged 6–24 months: A cross-sectional analysis

Background: Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices play a crucial role in shaping children’s health, development, and nutritional status during the first 2 years of life, a period essential for child survival. The Minimum acceptable diet (MAD), as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), combines the concepts of dietary diversity and meal frequency to assess the overall adequacy of complementary feeding practices. Materials and Methods: This study employed a community-based cross-sectional design to examine the feeding practices and the factors influencing them among 6–24-month-old children in a rural setting. Methodology: information was gathered from 200 mother–child pairs through interviews using the standardized WHO and UNICEF questionnaire designed to evaluate IYCF practices. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, including statistical methods such as proportions and Chi-square tests. Results: The majority of participants 136 (68.0%) belonged to the age group 9–24 months. One hundred and two (51.0%) were males while 98 (49.0%) were females. Around one-fourths, 53 (26.5%) were low birth weight (<2.5 kg). Half 100 (50.0%) of children had birth order of 2. Most of the children (91.5%) did not receive minimum acceptable diet (MAD). Only 14% of children met the minimum diet diversity requirement, while 61% achieved the recommended minimum meal frequency (MMF) guideline established by international standards. A statistically significant association ( P < 0.05) was found between children who received janam-ghutti at birth and the inadequate diet intake, i.e., breastfed children who had not received 4 or more food groups nor an MMF and nonbreastfed children fed <3 of minimum IYCF practices. Children delivered at a public facility were less likely to get an adequate diet intake ( P < 0.01). Conclusion: Multipronged interventions are essential, including skilled counseling on complementary feeding and fostering appropriate behavioral change among mothers and families.