ABSTRACT

 This study assessed appropriate complementary feeding practices and anthropometric status of children aged 6-23 months in Umuahia North Local Government Area (LGA) Abia State. A community based cross sectional survey involving 160 children randomly selected from Ojike primary health care and Amuzukwu primary health care, Umuahia North LGA, was conducted using multi-stage sampling technique. Information on household socio-demographic characteristics, complementary feeding practices, 24-hour dietary intake and anthropometric status of the children were obtained using a structured questionnaire. Complementary feeding practices were accessed based on WHO indicators for appropriate complementary feeding practices (ISSS-Intoduction of solid, semi-solid and soft foods; MDD- Minimum dietary diversity; MMF- Minimum meal frequency; MMFF- Minimum milk feeding frequency; MAD- Minimum acceptable diet). Anthropometric indices were analyzed using the 2018 World Health Organization recommendations and WHO Anthro Software. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequencies, percentages and Chi-square of significant association of p<0.05. Results showed that; some of the children (42.5%) were within the age range of 9 to 11 years and about half (55.0%) were males. The result also showed that about half (54.4%) practiced exclusive breastfeeding and 63.8% were still breastfeeding as at the time of the study. Only 2.5% had diarrhoea in the month prior to data collection. The study showed that 20.5% of children 6-8 months, 55.9% of children 9-11 months, 48.8% of children 12-18 months and 42.9% of children 18-23 months met the minimum dietary diversity. Among the age groups of 6-8, 9-11, 12-18 and 18-23 months, respectively, 86.4%, 85.3%, 73.2% and 57.1% met the requirements for minimum meal frequency and minimum milk feeding frequency. The prevalence of stunting, wasting, underweight and overweight were found to be 32.5%, 9.4%, 13.1% and 11.9%, respectively. The prevalence of stunting and overweight among the children in comparison to the WHO classification is of public health significance. There was a significant association (p<0.05) between adequate feeding practices and birth weight, exclusive breastfeeding, continued breastfeeding, maternal education and time of introduction of complementary foods. Generally, the children had good complementary feeding practices. It was recommended that nutrition education programmes should be developed and implemented as an accessible and effective tool for improving young child feeding, and regular anthropometric checkups should be carried out to encourage growth monitoring.