CHILD FEEDING PRACTICE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG EMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYED MOTHERS OF CHILDREN AGED 6 TO 24 MONTHS IN GONDAR TOWN NORTH WEST ETHIOPIA, 2022. COMPARATIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: - Child feeding practice is the process of providing a child with other foods and liquids to meet the nutrient requirement when breast milk is no longer sufficient from the age of six months. Since women in developing world settings gain access to formal work sectors, it is important to understand how such changes might influence child feeding practice Objective: - To assess appropriate child feeding practices and associated factors among employed and unemployed mothers of children aged 6 to 24 months in Gondar town, 2022 Method – A community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from May 1 –June 10, 2022. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the study participants (1115). A standard and validated tool that was adapted from EDHS and WHO with an interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Epi data Version 4.6.0 was used to enter the data and analyzed using SPSS 25. Both (bi-variable) and multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with the appropriate child feeding practice among employed, unemployed, and all mothers. Finally, an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval and p-value of less than 0.05 was used to report factors independently associated with appropriate complementary feeding practice. Results: overall 36.9% of all mothers were practicing child feeding with 38.5% among employed and 35.3% among unemployed mothers. After controlling for confounders, mothers with college and above education [AOR=3.5;95% CI:(1.34,8.95)] good knowledge, [AOR=2.08;95%CI (1.4,3.07)],Marital status [AOR=2.38;95% CI (1.17,4.85)], use separate dishes[AOR=1.85; 95% CI: (1.23,2.79)].Currently breastfeed their child [AOR=5.3; 95%CI: (1.98, 14.32), and child age [AOR= 0.51; 95% CI :( 0.28, 0.93)] were significantly associated with appropriate child feeding practice of unemployed mothers while maternal education [AOR= 0.50; 95% CI: (0.28, 0.90), currently breastfeed their child [AOR= 7.82; 95% CI: (2.92, 20.89)]. Knowledge [AOR= 2.16; 95% CI: (1.44, 3.26)]. Birth interval [AOR= 1.92; 95% CI :( 1.2, 3.1)]. Were significantly associated with appropriate child feeding practice among employed mothers. Conclusion and recommendation:- the magnitude of appropriate child feeding practice was low in employed, unemployed, and overall mothers. so Governmental, non-governmental organizations and health care professionals should involve in giving education about child feeding practices, increasing wealth status of the community, and promoting marriage and breastfeeding to achieve appropriate child feeding practices. Keywords:-child feeding practice, employed, unemployed, comparative