Feeding practices of under-two children in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This study demonstrated that infant feeding practices were below both national and international recommendations, exposing children at higher risk of malnutrition, morbidity, and mortality. These suboptimal feeding practices also hinder progress toward achieving to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Several factors were identified as significant determinants of feeding practices, including antenatal care attendance, place and mode of delivery, postnatal care utilization, maternal occupation, maternal age, child's age, breastfeeding counseling, husband's support, place of residence, and participation in complementary food preparation demonstrations. Improving infant feeding practices therefore requires a comprehensive approach. Key strategies to improve infant feeding practices should include nutrition education through practical demonstrations, promoting full attendance of antenatal and postnatal care, increasing institutional deliveries, enhancing husband involvement, and tailoring interventions to the child's age as well as the mother's age and place of residence.