Meal frequency and associated factors among children 6-23 months in Tahtay michew district, northern Ethiopia, 2018

Abstract BackgroundThe term meal frequency is used to describe the adequacy of complementary feedings among children. In the absence of adequate meal frequency young children are susceptible to malnutrition like stunting, wasting, micronutrient deficiencies and associated morbidity and mortality. More half of Ethiopian children did not receive age appropriate minimum meal frequency. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine minimum meal frequency and associated factors among children 6–23 months in Tahtay Michew district, Northern Ethiopia.MethodsA community based cross sectional study was conducted among systematically selected 981 mothers with index children 6–23 month. An interviewer- administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data. 24 hours dietary recalls was used to determine minimum meal frequency. Crude and Adjusted Odds Ratio with the corresponding 95% confidence interval were computed. In the multivariable analysis, variables with less than 0.05 P-value were considered statistically significant.ResultsMinimum meal frequency was 68% [95% CI: 64.9, 70.9%]. Wealth index (AOR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.09, 2.61), growth monitoring follow up (AOR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.41, 2.79) and mothers knowledge (AOR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.51, 3.04) were factors significantly associated with minimum meal frequency.Conclusion and recommendationThe proportion of children who received the minimum meal frequency was found low. Improving the wealth status of families and encouraging all mothers to attend growth monitoring follow ups are important for improving meal frequency and dietary diversity.