Micronutrient intake inadequacies in Northwest Ethiopian children aged 6-23 months

The early stages of childhood are a crucial period of life for health, with inadequate nutrition impacting physical growth, cognitive development, and the immune system. A considerable proportion of children are affected by micronutrient intake inadequacy and deficiency across the globe. Evidence on micronutrient intake among children aged 6-23 months is limited in Northwest Ethiopia, where there is a divergence between production and dietary consumption practices compared to other regions of the country. This study aimed to determine micronutrient inadequacy and associated factors among children aged 6-23 months. From February 1 to February 18, 2023, 435 children aged 6-23 months participated in a community-based cross-sectional study in the North Mecha District of the Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia. The study participants were selected using a multistage sampling technique. A multiphasic interactive 24-h dietary recall was used to collect dietary intake data via an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The interviews were conducted with the mothers of the selected children. Nutrient values for the selected 12 micronutrients were calculated using the NutriSurvey 2007 software and food composition tables from Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Kenya. SPSS version 25 was used for the remaining parts of the analysis. The Nutrient Adequacy Ratio and Mean Adequacy Ratio were calculated to evaluate the nutrient intakes. To identify the factors associated with overall micronutrient intake inadequacy, a binary logistic regression analysis was performed, with statistical significance determined at a p-value < 0.05. The overall prevalence of micronutrient intake inadequacy was 64.7% (95% CI 59.9, 69.2). The odds of inadequacy of micronutrient intake were 2.8 times higher among children aged 6-8 months than children aged 9-23 months (AOR = 2.80, 95% CI 1.71, 4.59). Children with paternal education unable to read and write and primary school incomplete were 3.1 (AOR = 3.12, 95% CI 1.26, 7.70) and 2.4 (AOR = 2.40, 95% CI 1.01, 5.73) times more likely to have micronutrient intake inadequacy, respectively, compared to children with paternal education of primary school completed and above. The likelihood of micronutrient intake inadequacy was 1.8 times higher among children from mothers who had an unfavorable nutrition-related attitude than those from mothers who had a favorable attitude (AOR = 1.76, 95% CI 1.02, 3.05). Inadequate intake of micronutrients was shown to be highly prevalent among children aged 6-23 months. Child age, paternal education, and maternal nutrition-related attitude were significantly associated with micronutrient intake inadequacy. Integrating community-guided nutrition interventions targeting nutrition-related knowledge and attitudes of parents is critical in addressing the inadequate micronutrient intake of children in the study community, where production is not a major problem.