Maternal Knowledge and Practices on Complementary Feeding and Associated Factors in Sedal District, Western Ethiopia

Maternal knowledge and practices regarding complementary feeding are crucial determinants of children's nutrition and health. However, significant challenges remain owing to insufficient understanding and suboptimal compliance with the recommended guidelines. This study aimed to assess maternal knowledge and practices regarding complementary feeding in Sedal District, Western Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Sedal District from February to July 2023. This study used the cluster and random sampling methods. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with maternal knowledge and practices. The significance of the association was determined using the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of p < 0.05. Overall, 46.8% and 42.7% of the mothers were knowledgeable and had appropriate practices regarding their children's complementary feeding. Women's educational level (p < 0.01) was significantly associated with maternal knowledge of complementary feeding. Likewise, Women's education (p < 0.01), household monthly average income (p < 0.01), and family size (p < 0.01) were significantly associated with mothers' children's complementary feeding practices. A low proportion of mothers in this study area demonstrated adequate knowledge and appropriate child-feeding practices. Maternal education is associated with knowledge of complementary feeding. Similarly, maternal educational level, monthly average household income, and family size were identified as determinants of children's complementary feeding practices. Socioeconomic interventions, family planning programs, and nutritional education initiatives are essential to promote adherence to recommended feeding practices and caregiving approaches to enhance nutritional status and health outcomes in pediatric populations.