Complementary Feeding Practices among Children Aged 6-23 Months in Mumoni Ward, Kitui County, Kenya: a Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Complementary feeding between 6 and 23 months is essential to meet children's increasing nutritional needs and support optimal growth and development. Inadequate complementary feeding contributes to childhood malnutrition, yet evidence on the quality and adequacy of feeding practices among young children in rural communities of Kitui County remains limited. This study assessed complementary feeding practices among children aged 6-23 months in Mumoni Ward, Kitui County, Kenya, focusing on minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency, and minimum acceptable diet. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among caregivers and children aged 6-23 months. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select households from three sub-locations, and 317 mother-child pairs were targeted. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires incorporating the World Health Organization infant and young child feeding indicators. Complementary feeding practices were evaluated using minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency, and minimum acceptable diet, while data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26. Of the 317 targeted participants, 310 participated, representing a response rate of 97.8%; five questionnaires were incomplete, hence discarded, and 305 complete questionnaires were included in the analysis. Timely introduction of complementary foods at six months was reported for 60.3% of children, while 39.7% were introduced to complementary foods before six months. Minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency, and minimum acceptable diet were achieved by 77.4%, 61%, and 47.9% of children, respectively. Minimum acceptable diet was substantially higher among breastfed children (57.8%) than among non breastfed children (3.6%). Grains, roots, and tubers constituted the most commonly consumed food group (84.3%), whereas flesh foods were the least consumed (19.3%). The findings indicate that although a considerable proportion of children achieve minimum dietary diversity and the minimum acceptable diet, gaps persist in the timely introduction of complementary foods, meal frequency, and consumption of flesh foods. Strengthening caregiver nutrition counselling and education is important to promote appropriate complementary feeding practices among children aged 6-23 months in the study area.