How common is appropriate complementary feeding in SSA?
Among 60,266 mothers of 6–23-month-olds across 19 sub-Saharan African countries, only 13.02% met appropriate complementary feeding criteria.
Source
Complementary feeding practices and associated factors among mothers of children aged 6 to 23 months in Sub-saharan African countries: a multilevel analysis of the recent demographic and health survey
Study at a glance
- Design
- Cross-sectional — Multilevel logistic models of DHS data from 19 SSA countries (2015–2020)
- N
- N=60266 · Weighted mothers of children aged 6–23 months
- Population
- Mothers of 6–23-month-old children in 19 sub-Saharan African countries
- Outcome
- Prevalence and multilevel correlates of appropriate complementary feeding
Structured fields used in claim comparison tables when every cited study has a complete layer.
What they did
Pooled recent DHS surveys (2015–2020) from 19 SSA countries and fit multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression for appropriate complementary feeding among mothers of children aged 6–23 months.
What they found
Prevalence 13.02% (95% CI 12.75–13.29). Higher odds with more maternal education, female household head, media exposure, more ANC visits, facility delivery, current breastfeeding, PNC follow-up, lower community illiteracy, and living in West Africa.
The limits
What it doesn't show
Cross-sectional DHS associations are not causal; ‘appropriate’ feeding definitions and self-report can misclassify practices.
Key terms
- Complementary feeding
- Foods/liquids introduced alongside breastmilk from about 6 months.
- DHS
- Demographic and Health Survey household data platform.
- Multilevel analysis
- Models nesting individuals within communities/countries.
- ANC / PNC
- Antenatal and postnatal care contacts.
- Appropriate CF practice
- Study-defined adequate complementary feeding behaviors.
Flashcards
Research intelligence for this paper
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Appropriate CF prevalence:
Common questions
Sample?
60,266 weighted mother–child pairs.
Prevalence?
13.02% (95% CI 12.75–13.29).
Countries / years?
19 SSA countries; DHS 2015–2020.
Protective factors?
Education, media, ANC, facility birth, breastfeeding, PNC, West Africa.
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