Initiation of Complementary Feeding Practice And Associated Factors Among Mothers Having Children 6-23 Month of Age, In Meket Woreda, North Wollo Ethiopia, 2020: A Multicenter Community -Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: improving the infant and young child feeding practices in children aged 0-23months is critical. It is necessary to improved infant and young child health, nutrition, and development. Infant and under five mortality rate in Ethiopia are 43/1,000 and 55/1,000 live births respectively. Objective: To assess Initiation of CF practice and associated factors among mothers with children aged 6−23months. Methods: : a multicenter Community based cross sectional study was conducted among 416 mother-infant pairs of 6-23 months in Meket Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia from March 20-June 30, 2020. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regeration model was fitted to identify factors associated CF Practice. P-value less than 0.05 considered as significance. Result: Among 416 mothers with children aged 6–23 months, 76.4% mothers started giving CF timely at recommended age of 6 month of child age. Advised About CF during ANC follow up [AOR=0.03; 95%CI: 0.003-0.356], Child delivered place at a health facility [AOR=0.07; 95%CI: 0.0-0.619], mothers take family planning [AOR= 0.049; 95%CI: 0.011-0.23], give additional diet the 1 st 6month [AOR = 0.035; 95% CI: 0.009-0.137] and BF makes appearance [AOR = 0.064; 95% CI: 0.003-0.687] were found to be independent predictors of CF practice. Conclusion: and Recommendation: About 23.6% of mothers were not initiated CF practice their children at recommended age of 6month. This would have negative implication on the health of infants and young children. Health professionals should focus on advising and counseling mothers on appropriate CF during prenatal, delivery, post natal, and immunization services.