Complementary feeding practices and associated factors among mothers of children aged 6–23 months in Debre Berhan town, Ethiopia

Appropriate nutrition during the first 1,000 days from pregnancy to a child's second birthday is a critical window for optimal growth, cognitive development, and long-term health, with proper complementary feeding practices playing a pivotal role. Despite this, evidence on the magnitude of appropriate complementary feeding practices and their associated factors remains limited at the local level in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study assessed the Complementary Feeding Practices and Associated Factors among Mothers of Children Aged 6-23 Months in Debre Berhan Town, Ethiopia, in 2021. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 1 to August 30, 2021, using a cluster sampling technique in four randomly selected kebeles, including all eligible mothers. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire, and appropriate complementary feeding practice was assessed based on WHO-recommended indicators. Data were entered into EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with appropriate complementary feeding practice at p < 0.05. The prevalence of appropriate complementary feeding practice was 43.7%, and factors significantly associated included being a housewife (AOR = 2.53; 95% CI: 1.05-6.08), attending postnatal care (AOR = 3.18; 95% CI: 2.03-4.97), institutional delivery (AOR = 2.14; 95% CI: 1.11-4.14), and child vaccination (AOR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.15-3.12). The level of appropriate complementary feeding practice in Debre Berhan Town (43.7%) remains suboptimal compared with WHO recommendations for children aged 6-23 months. Postnatal care attendance, being a housewife, institutional delivery, and child vaccination were significantly associated with appropriate complementary feeding practice. Strengthening postnatal counseling and integrating appropriate infant and young child feeding messages into routine vaccination services may help improve complementary feeding practices.