Factors Associated With Infant Feeding Practices and Nutritional Status among Children Aged 6-24 Months Attending Child Welfare Clinics In Kajiado North Sub-County.

Abstract

Having adequate nutrition during infancy is leads to the development of each child’s full human potential. The first two years of life are important stage for child's growth and development. Any damage caused by malnutrition during this period can lead to impaired cognitive development, compromised educational achievement and low economic productivity later in life. This study aimed at determining infant feeding practices selected by mothers, nutritional status of children aged 6 to 24 months attending mother child health clinic in Kajiado North Sub-county and factors associated with choice of infant feeding practice by mothers. The study was carried out in three public health facilities located in Kajiado North Sub-county. A total of 350 mother-child pairs were systematically sampled from the three facilities. A self administered questionnaire was used to collect information from mothers and anthropometric measurements were taken from their children. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 20 and EPI-info version 7. Descriptive statistics summarized data from univariate analysis. Chi-square tested association between dependent and independent variables, all independent variables identified to significantly associate with dependent variables were further analyzed by ordinal regression. All mothers breastfed their children, 55.1% of them breastfeeding immediately after birth. A quarter of infants 25.8% were not exclusively breastfed for the first six months. A small proportion 4.0% of children had not been introduced to complementary foods during time of study. Stunting was found in 26.5% of children, 11.1% underweight and no child was wasted. Majority of children 84.5% were 12 months and below, most mothers 92.6% were married, maternal mean age was 25. Marital status (X2 =26.716, P<0.05, df=1), children age distribution (X2 =53.733, P<0.05, df=5), child gender (X2 =10.253, P<0.05, df=1) mother’s occupation (X2 =38.556, P<0.05, df=5), spouse’s occupation (X2 =29.505, P<0.05, df=3) and major source of income (X2 =23.059, P<0.05, df=4) were significantly associated with stunting. Children age distribution (X2 =0.018, P<0.05, df=5) and spouse level of education (X2 =41.404, P<0.05, df=4) were significantly associated with wasting. Marital status and children age groups 6-15 months were found to be predictors of stunting (p<0.05). Children age groups 6-15 months were found to be predictors of wasting (p<0.05). There is need of creating more awareness by educating mothers on optimal infant feeding practices. This will enable them to practice exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months as well as introducing nutritionally adequate complementary foods at the right time, improving nutritional status of all children.