Feeding Profile and Diarrhea Morbidity among Infants of 7-12 Months” Adua Town, Tigray, North Ethiopia 2006
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2006-02
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Abeba University
Abstract
A community based cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire was conducted
from November 2005 to January 2006 in Adua town central zone of Tigray regional state
to assess infant feeding profile, determinant factors affecting breast-feeding and
prevalence of diarrhea morbidity in infants. Six hundred and ninety six mothers having
infants in the age group 7-12 months were included in this study and the Mean age of
mothers was 25.7 years (SD±5.68). Orthodox Christians accounted for 654 (94%) and the
rest were Muslims. Three hundred and seventy nine (54.5%) were Male infants, 648
(93%) were on breast-feeding within the first 1hr and the rest 125 (18%) were not started
weaning diet until the time of study. Two hundred and ninety one (41.8%) mothers
exclusively breast-fed for six months. Overall, mean age of weaning was 5.59 (SD±1.34)
months. Mother’s education was directly associated with exclusive breast-feeding
practice (OR= 0.52; 95% CI, 0.25-0.94). Similarly husband’s occupation was
significantly associated with exclusive breast-feeding (OR=0.66; 95% CI, 0.44-0.99) in
private employed and (OR= 0.43; 95% CI, 0.21-0.91) in the un-employed husbands
compared to the government-employed husbands. Prevalence of diarrhea was 26.35%,
and odds of experiencing diarrhea was higher in infants from single mothers than in the
married mothers (OR=2.50; 95% C.I, 1.55-4.02). Infants from un-employed fathers were
also at higher odds of experiencing diarrhea than the infants from employed fathers (OR=
3.45; 95% CI, 1.56-7.68). A higher proportion of infants who were not exclusively
breast-fed developed diarrhea compared to those who were exclusively breast-fed that is
29.9% and 21.6% respectively.
ix
In our study, weaning and exclusive breast-feeding was relatively good, but a
considerable proportion of infants were not on weaning diet until the time of study. Over
a quarter of infants in the town are suffering from diarrheal morbidity, it is highly
pronounced in infants whose mothers are uneducated and unmarried. Infants from
unemployed fathers were at higher odds of experiencing diarrhea than infants whose
fathers were governmental employed. So as to address the existing diarrheal morbidity
the district health office and local NGO’s should educate parents and equip parents with
up to date information on benefits of breast-feeding, timing of weaning, infant care and
feeding, and should work in harmony in the practice of infant feeding and controlling
diarrhea in the town.
Description
Keywords
Feeding Profile and Diarrhea Morbidity among Infants of 7-12