Feeding practice, energy, and nutrient intake adequacy among children aged 6–23 months in Southern Ethiopia: a community based cross‐sectional study

After 6 months, children require increased food and nutrient intake from complementary food for their growth and development. However, quantitative data on macro and micronutrient intakes from complementary food is limited. Thus, this study is designed to identify the adequacy of energy and micronutrient intake from complementary foods among children aged 6-23 months and to characterize current feeding practice in Southern Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March 2016. Simple random sampling was used to recruit 190 mothers/primary caregivers of children aged 6-23 months. A repeated interactive multiple-pass 24-hr recall survey was used to assess' food and nutrient intake of children. Complementary food was low in animal sources, fruits, and vegetables. Most of the children (94.7%) consume grain, roots, and tubers. Vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables are consumed by 71 (37.8%) children. Very few (1.6%) children consume iron-fortified food. Median protein intake exceeds the estimated requirement from complementary food. Except for vitamin B2 and B6, intake of energy and micronutrient were below world health organization (WHO) recommendations among children aged 9-23 months. In conclusion, infant and young child feeding practices in Butajira district did not conform to recommendations. Intake of energy and micronutrient from complementary food among children aged 6-23 months in Butajira district was inadequate. Consumption of a diverse diet by including animal source food (ASF) such as poultry, organ meat, chicken liver, beef, fruits, and vegetables is needed to fill the nutrient intake gap among the study participant.