Journal Article

Access to child-feeding counseling service and determinant factors among breastfeeding mothers in Ethiopia: a multilevel complex data analysis of 2019 Ethiopian mini demographic and health survey

Mekonen, Enyew Getaneh, Wassie, Mulugeta, Zegeye, Alebachew Ferede, Alemu, Tewodros Getaneh, Kassie, Alemneh Tadesse, Tamir, Tadesse Tarik, Tekeba, Berhan, Workneh, Belayneh Shetie, Ali, Mohammed Seid, Techane, Masresha Asmare, Gonete, Almaz Tefera

2025

Overview

Background Inappropriate child-feeding practices lead to child morbidity and mortality in many countries around the world. In many low- and middle-income countries, mothers often lack access to appropriate child-feeding counseling services within healthcare settings. While several studies have examined recommended infant and child feeding practices, there is insufficient information regarding the accessibility of child-feeding counseling services in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the accessibility of child-feeding counseling services and determinant factors among breastfeeding mothers in Ethiopia. Methods The total weighted samples of 3979 participants were included in this study. The data were taken from the 2019 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). A multilevel multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify the determinant factors of child-feeding counseling services. Excel and STATA-14 software were used for the data management and analysis. In the multivariable multilevel analysis, the adjusted odds ratio with a 95% CI was used to declare significant determinants of child-feeding counseling services. Result The prevalence of child-feeding counseling services among mothers in Ethiopia during the 2019 EDHS was 36.94%. In multivariable multilevel analysis, the significant factors associated with child-feeding counseling service were wealth index (AOR = 1.46; 95 CI (1.04–2.06)), maternal education; primary education (AOR = 1.27; 95% CI (1.03–1.58)), secondary and higher education (AOR = 1.56; 95% CI (1.17–2.08)), place of delivery; higher odds was observed among mothers who delivered at health institution (AOR = 8.4; 95% CI (6.73–10.49)), marital status; ever married (AOR = 3.28; 95 CI (1.12–9.59)), place of residence (AOR = 2.06; 95% CI (1.39–3.05)), community poverty level; middle (AOR = 1.38; 95% CI (1.07–1.78)), richer (AOR = 1.54 (1.19–1.99)), antenatal care visits; 1–4 visits (AOR = 2.90; 95% CI (2.21–3.84)), 5–8 visits (AOR = 3.33; 95% CI (2.40–4.61)), and more than 8 visits (AOR = 3.40; 95% CI (1.79–6.46)), the regions, Tigray (AOR = 2.65; 95% CI (1.36–5.14)), Afar (AOR = 2.57; 95% CI (1.34–4.92)), Amhara (AOR = 1.94; 95% CI (1.02–3.65)), and Addis Ababa (AOR = 3.9; 95% CI (1.84–8.28)). Conclusion and recommendation Child-feeding counseling service among breastfeeding mothers was low and requires immediate attention to promote healthy child-feeding practices by improving the accessibility of the counseling service. The determinant factors were an important input to developing strategies for improving the accessibility of child-feeding counseling services in the country.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Adolescent / Adult / Behavior / Breast feeding / Breast Feeding - statistics & numerical data / Breastfeeding / Breastfeeding & lactation / Child-feeding / Children & youth / Counseling - statistics & numerical data / Counseling service EDHS / Counseling services / Cross-Sectional Studies / Ethiopia / Female / Health Administration / Health care / Health counseling / Health Informatics / Health Services Accessibility - statistics & numerical data / Health Surveys / Higher education / Households / Humans / Infant / Infant health services / Marital status / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Middle Aged / Mortality / Mothers / Mothers - psychology / Mothers - statistics & numerical data / Multilevel Analysis / Nursing Research / Parent educational background / Public Health / Regions / Rural areas / Social aspects / Socioeconomic Factors / Surveys / Variables / Young Adult