Complementary Feeding Practices among Mothers Having 6-24 Months Children in Pokhari VDC of Doti District
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Faculty of Anthropology
Abstract
This descriptive study was carried out as a partial fulfillment of the degree of Masters
of Anthropology. The objective of the study was to find out the level of knowledge &
practice of complementary feeding practices. Semi-structured interview questionnaire
was used to collect data from total 105 mothers. The study findings revealed that four
out of ten (38.09%) respondent mothers were of 25-30 years’ age group.Half of
respondents belong to Chhettri (59.2%) by ethnicity, majority (97.1%) were Hindu by
religion, nuclear family six out of ten (60.9%) by family type.
Majority of respondents (81.91%) of the mothers were aware about the necessity of
giving additional food to the child and two out of ten (20%) knew it differs according
to the age of the child. Majority of the mothers (80%) weren’t aware that 6 months
was the right period of time to start additional food. Only few 20% of the mothers
said correctly the amount of food that can be given to the 6 months’ child.
Complementary feeding practices like amount of food given correctly to the child,
frequency,& preparation of sarbottampitho by respondent mothers in Pokhari VDC
were 20 percent, 32.38 percent & 16.19 percent respectively. Three fourth (74.29%)
of respondents were found continuing breast feeding during the study.
Uses of boil water during preparation of food were very few (8.57%) and hand
washing practices before feeding were found 21.91 percent only. Similarly, the study
revealed that majority (84.76%) of respondent mothers were married before the age
of 20 and most (80.95%) became pregnant for the first time before the age of 20 years
in Pokhari VDC. Family type (p-value=0.001) and correct level of knowledge of
mothers about preparing sarbottampithokolito also showed positive relationship
whereas family type (p-value=0.001) too showed positive relation with correct level
of practice of mothers about food quantity given at main meal the day before. It was
also found in this study that family type (p-value=0.001) with correct level of practice
of mothers about hand washing with soap water before preparation of food showed
positive relationship.
This study may not reflect the scenario of the country but several such researches
carried out in different social and cultural contest in Nepal can reflect the scenario of
problem. Wrong knowledge regarding complementary feeding practices among
mothers still persist and awareness level to various crucial factors important during
complementary feeding was found to be unsatisfactory. It highlights the need of
targeted interventions to raise awareness and provision of Health and Nutrition
education package to most mothers. Poor Nutritional status arising due to lack of
proper knowledge on complementary feeding is an issue that needs to be addressed at
all level.