Minimum Acceptable Diet and Associated Factors Among Mothers of Children Aged Between 6 to 23 Months in Public Health Centres at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract The deficit provision of a Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD) to children aged 6–23 months poses a major public health challenge in low and middle-income countries, particularly in Ethiopia. Despite the National Nutrition Program, MAD coverage rose only from 7% to 11% from 2016 to 2019, showing limited progress. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of MAD and its associated factors among mothers with children aged 6–23 months in Addis Ababa. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in selected public health centers from March to April 2023, using a multistage sampling technique to recruit 458 mothers. Data collection was performed via structured, interviewer-administered questionnaires, and analyzed using logistic regression. MAD prevalence was found to be 36.1% (95% CI: 31.7–40.8). Key factors positively associated with MAD included child age (AOR = 2.44; 95% CI: 1.50–3.97), male gender (AOR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.29–3.02), higher maternal education (AOR = 2.49; 95% CI: 1.16–5.36), and nutrition counseling during antenatal care (AOR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.04–2.58). These findings highlight the need for targeted educational initiatives and policy efforts to improve MAD practices and address malnutrition.