Complementary feeding practices and associated factors among mothers of children age 6-24 months of Banaskantha district

Malnutrition during early childhood remains a pressing public health issue in many developing regions, including India. One of the primary contributors to under nutrition among children aged 6-24 months is inappropriate complementary feeding practices. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the timely introduction of safe and nutritionally adequate complementary foods in conjunction with continued breastfeeding, adherence to these guidelines remains poor in several parts of India. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence and determinants of complementary feeding practices among children aged 6-24 months in Banaskantha district, Gujarat, and to examine their associations with maternal socio-economic characteristics. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, involving 368 mother-child pairs selected through proportionate simple random sampling. Data collection included structured interviews with mothers to gather socio-demographic information and feeding practices, along with anthropometric measurements of children. Findings revealed a significant gap in adherence to WHO-recommended complementary feeding practices. Only 11.1% of children received appropriate complementary feeding, while 88.9% exhibited poor practices. Timely initiation of complementary feeding was observed in just 43.5% of children, and only 36.1% met the minimum dietary diversity (MDD). While dairy products (100%) and grains/tubers (95%) were widely consumed, intake of protein-rich foods such as flesh foods (0.54%) and eggs (0.81%), as well as vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables (17%), was notably low. Furthermore, 39.9% of children consumed processed or packaged foods, and 25% consumed sweetened beverages. Only 28.8% of children achieved the minimum acceptable diet (MAD), and 58.2% met the minimum meal frequency (MMF). These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted nutritional interventions and behavior change communication strategies to improve complementary feeding practices in the region.