International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition

156-163

Authors: Getahun Fentaw Mulaw, Bizunesh Fantahun Kase, Adebabay Dessie Manchilo, Bereket Lopiso Lombebo, Begna Melkamu Tollosa

Background:Severe acute malnutrition remains one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among children in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Knowing the local burden of SAM has huge importance for public health interventions. Therefore this study aimed to assess the level of severe acute malnutrition and feeding practice of children aged 6–59 months in Abaa’la district, Afar, Northeast, Ethiopia.Methods:Community-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 422 mother-child pairs of children aged 6–59 months. Kebeles were selected randomly after stratifying the district in to urban and rural, and study participants were selected using a cluster sampling technique. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire, and child nutritional status was measured using WHO Mid upper arm circumference measuring tape. Data were entered into Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 22 for analysis. The result was presented using Descriptiv e statistics.Results: The prevalence of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) was found to be 4.3% (95% CI, 2.3-6.1%) and that of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) was 21.1 %. Almost all (98.8%) of children were ever breastfed. Prelacteal feeding and bottle feeding was practiced by 31% and 33.9% of children, respectively. Only 68.5% of children were feed colostrum. Around 45.5% of children were exclusively breastfed for the first six months, and 70.4% of children wean breastfeeding before the age of two years. Conclusion:The prevalence of severe acute malnutrition in the study area was lower than the regional figures, but still, it is a public health priority. There are improper child care and feeding practices. Therefore, public health interventions that can improve those practices should be strengthened

171-187

Authors: Habtamu Gebresenbet

Appropriate feeding practices are fundamental importance for the survival, growth, development and health of the infant and young children. However; exclusive breastfeeding remains a challenge because of many factors. It was suggested that mother's knowledge, attitude and practice determines the effectiveness of exclusive breastfeeding. This research is a cross-sectional study aimed to assesses mother's knowledge, attitude and practice towards optimal breastfeeding among Ginjo Guduru kebele. The survey was conducted from June 29-July30, 2018, from a total of 315 mothers who had children under one (1) year age, 190 mothers were selected using simple random sampling. Structured pre-tested questionnaires, as well as the in-depth interview, was used to collect the data on the socio-economic, demographic characteristics, knowledge attitude and practice towards exclusive breastfeeding. Among mothers studied about 73.94% had good knowledge of effective breastfeeding, 63.99% of mothers had a positive attitude on effective breastfeeding, and 69.69% had a good practice of effective breastfeeding. About 24.06% of mothers had poor knowledge of effective breastfeeding, approximately 36.11% of mothers had a poor level of attitude on effective breastfeeding, and about 31.31% of mothers had a poor practice of effective breastfeeding. Health service delivery staffs Policymakers,administrators and Non-governmental organisation collaborates to draw strategies to enhance the awareness of mothers about effective breastfeeding.

191-201

Authors: Getahun Fentaw Mulaw, Omer Seid Adem, Abate Bekele Belachew

Background: Globally, stunting is a public health concern, more of in developing counties, including Ethiopia. Once occurred, in the first two years of life, it is irreversible and has long-lasting harmful consequences. Exploring the determinants has pivotal importance for evidence-based interventions. Therefore, the rationale of this study was to identify determinants of stunting among children aged 6-23 months in the pastoralist community, Afar region, Ethiopia. Method:Acommunity-based unmatched case-control study was conducted among 381 (cases=126, controls 255) study participants from February 15/2017 to March 30/2017. Cases and controls were identified consecutively using the world health organization growth monitoring chart. Data was collected by interviewer-administered questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05 in the final multivariable logistic regression model. Result:Maternal education (AOR:0.34, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.77), maternal under-nutrition (AOR:2.91, 95% CI:1.51, 5.60), number of under-five children within the household (AOR:2.66, 95% CI: 1.38, 5.10), latrine ownership (AOR:0.28, 95% CI:0.15, 0.55), minimum Dietary Diversity score of children (AOR:0.41, 95% CI:0.22, 0.75), child age (AOR:1.76, 95% CI:1.01, 3.09), colostrum intake (AOR:3.03, 95%CI:1.62, 5.66), and exclusively breastfeed for the first six months (AOR:3.20, 95% CI:1.72,5.95) were found to be determinants of stunting. Conclusion:This study found that determinants of childhood stunting are multifactorial. Maternal, household and child-related characteristics are associated with childhood stunting. Therefore, to improve childhood nutritional status, inter-sectoral collaboration and commitment are vital.