Young Children Feeding Practice and Associated Factors Among Mothers in Tigray Region, Ethiopia

Background: Young child feeding practice is the important modifiable factor influencing the health of children. Optimal young child feeding practice is safe, promotes sensory and cognitive development and help to protect from common childhood illnesses. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess young children feeding practices and its associated factors among mothers in Tigray Region, Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was used. The study was conducted from March 8 to April 8, 2024, in selected zone of Tigray Regional state, Ethiopia. Data was collected from 600 mothers using structured interview questionnaire with Multi-stage sampling technique and kept on the Kobo Collect website. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 27. Frequency distributions, Bi-variate and Multivariate analysis was done and at P value < 0.05 considered as statistically significant. Results: The overall poor feeding practice was 59.2%. Separated mothers (AOR = 7.222, 95% CI (2.080, 25.079)), farmer mothers (AOR = 2.933, 95% CI (1.030, 8.354)), and unemployed fathers (AOR = 1.947, 95% CI (1.005, 3.770)) showed higher odds of poor feeding practices, respectively. Home deliveries (AOR = 8.454, 95% CI (4.100, 17.433)), cesarean sections (AOR = 7.454, 95% CI (3.100, 16.33)) and vacuum delivery, (AOR = 3.902, 95% CI (1.277, 11.925)) were also linked to higher odds of poor feeding practices, respectively. Regular postnatal care (AOR = 0.547, 95% CI (0.390, 0.768)), higher educational level of parents (AOR 0.356 95% CI (0.170, 0.746)) and refrigerator ownership (AOR = 0.589, 95% CI (0.418, 0.831)) have lower odds of poor feeding practices, respectively. Conclusion: The overall poor feeding practice was 59.2%. Separated mothers, farmer mothers, unemployed fathers, home deliveries, cesarean sections and vacuum delivery were associated with increased poor feeding practice. Higher educational level of parents, regular postnatal care and refrigerator ownership have prevention effect of poor feeding practice. Keywords: young children, feeding practice, Tigray, Ethiopia