Appropriate Complementary Feeding Practices and Associated Factors Among Caregivers of Children Age 6-23 Months in Rural Areas of Hunan Province, China: A Community-based Cross-sectional Study
Abstract BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the quality and associated factors that potentially influence complementary feeding practices among Chinese caregivers living in Hunan, a rapidly developing province in China. MethodsThree indicators( minimum dietary diversity(MDD), minimum meal frequency(MMF) and minimum acceptable diet(MAD)) were used to evaluate the rationality of complementary feeding. A multi-factor unconditional logistic regression model was employed to analyzeanalyse the relevant factors of complementary feeding. ResultsThe eligibility rates of MDD, MMF and MAD for children aged 6-23 months were 62.3%, 75.1% and 44.0%, respectively. The ineligible OR values of MDD for children aged 12-17 and 18-23 months were 0.238 and 0.103, respectively, and those of MAD were 0.425 and 0.376, respectively, compared with those for children aged 6-11 months. Compared children whose mothers moved out for work, the ineligible MMF for children whose mothers were not migrant workers was 2.069. Compared with parents who scored less than 60 in knowledge and attitude towards nutrition and health, the ineligible OR values of MDD, MMF and MAD for children whose parents obtained 60-79 were 0.653, 0.689 and 0.668, respectively, and those for children whose parents obtained 80-100 were 0.543, 0.428 and 0.496, respectively (all P values <0.05). ConclusionThe complementary feeding of children in rural areas of Hunan Province needs to be improved. Younger month-age, mothers’ not going out to work and parents’ lacking in knowledge about nutrition and health are high risk factors for poor complementary feeding.