Childhood feeding practice in north Ethiopia
Tessema, T.; Hailu, A.
East African Medical Journal 74(2): 92-95
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-835X PMID: 9185393 Document Number: 471960
The feeding practices of infants and children play key roles in the prevalence of malnutrition, one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The feeding practices of 1464 children under age 5 years in the Gondar Zuria district of northern Ethiopia were surveyed between July 1993 and May 1994. 99.8% of the children in the study area were initially breast fed, but 5% discontinued before age 6 months and 15% before reaching age 1 year. The mean duration of breast feeding among the children was 21.97 months. A supplementary diet was introduced at age 4-6 months in 42.4% of the children, while in 16% it was started after age 1 year. Supplementary feeding began at the mean age of 9.9 months. The most frequently used supplementary diet was the local staple, yet low nutrition diet. These findings indicate that while there is no problem in Ethiopia with women initiating breast feeding, the early termination of the practice, the delay in beginning a supplementary diet, and the low quality of the supplementary diet are of concern.