Growth Monitoring and Promotion Program For Improving Dietary Diversity of Infants: Evidence From Performance Monitoring For Action- Ethiopia Study
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Date
2025-04
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Child malnutrition and inadequate feeding practices continue to be significant
challenges in Ethiopia. The Growth Monitoring and Promotion (GMP) program aims to address
these concerns by empowering mothers to provide appropriate childcare. Despite the program's
longstanding implementation in Ethiopia over sixteen years as nutrition specific intervention to
prevent malnutrition, there is limited data and understanding of its effects on child feeding
practices. The study examined the role of GMP in improving dietary diversity of infants aged 6
to 12 months in selected regions of Ethiopia.
Methods: A weighted community-based retrospective cohort study was conducted from January
2024 to May 2025 using secondary data from the PMA-Ethiopia panel survey. A weighted
sample size of 915 children’s with complete dietary diversity data at one year postpartum follow
up survey were included in this study. Data was cleaned and analyzed using STATA version 18.
A longitudinal panel survey design-based bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression
analysis was used to determine the role of GMP in improving dietary diversity of infants, while
controlling for possible confounders. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) alongside 95% confidence
intervals (CIs) was estimated to measure the strength of the association between variables of
interest.
Results: In this study, only 29.2% of mothers (95% CI: 24.7%, 34.0%) reported utilizing GMP
services for their child since delivery, and just 18.5% of infants (95% CI: 14.7%, 23.1%)
achieved the minimum recommended dietary diversity. Utilization of GMP services was not
significantly associated with dietary diversity both in the bivariate and multivariate analyses
[AOR: 0.96(0.85, 1.50); p=0.846]. Although a slightly higher proportion of children who
participated in GMP had sufficient dietary diversity, the difference was not statistically
significant.
Conclusion: This study found a low prevalence of adequate dietary diversity among infants,
with no statistically significant association between participation in GMP services and achieving
minimum dietary diversity. The findings underscore the need for quality nutritional counseling
and sustained behavior change communication alongside GMP services.
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Keywords
Dietary Diversity, Infants