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. 2024 Mar 13;50(1):49.
doi: 10.1186/s13052-024-01612-1.

The effect of parity on time to initiate complementary feeding among mother-infant pairs in Awi Zone, Northwest Ethiopia

Tilahun Degu Tsega  1 , Gashaw Melkie Bayeh  2 , Kassaye Demeke Alemu  3 , Abaynew Assemu Asrade  3 , Abebaw Molla Kebede  4 , Tamiru Alene  5 , Zewdu Bishaw Aynalem  6 , Bezawit Adane  4 , Melaku Yalew  4 , Molla Getie Mehari  7 , Almaw Genet Yeshiwas  2 , Tadesse Miretie Dessie  4 , Eniyew Talie Fenta  4 , Kefale Mitiku Haylu  8
Affiliations

The effect of parity on time to initiate complementary feeding among mother-infant pairs in Awi Zone, Northwest Ethiopia

Tilahun Degu Tsega et al. Ital J Pediatr. .

Abstract

Introduction: Despite strategies and recommendations for complementary feeding initiation were applied globally, mothers initiated complementary feeding to the infants on time was low. Previous works of literatures were not identified the effect of parity on time to initiate complementary feeding. Particularly, evidences regarding to this in Ethiopia is scanty. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the effect of parity on time to initiate complementary feeding among mother-infants pairs in Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods: A community-based prospective cohort study was carried out among 732 primipara, and 1464 multipara mothers who had a live birth in Northwest Ethiopia. Data were collected using Kobo collect software at the start of and on a monthly bases until the end of the follow up period. Parity as exposure variable and other confounders were analyzed using cox proportional hazard regression. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and the Schoenfeld residuals global test (P-value = 0.4861) was performed. Hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was used to declare statistical significance of predictors.

Results: The overall incidence rate of initiation of complementary feeding among primipara and multipara mothers were 16.27 (95%CI: 15.04, 17.61) and 13.30 (95%CI: 12.53, 14.12) person months' observations respectively. The median time to initiate complementary feeding among primipara and multipara mothers for their infants was 5 and 6 months respectively. Primipara mothers had a 30% higher rate to initiate complementary feeding early (AHR = 1.30, 95%CI: 1.17, 1.43). Age from 15 to 24 and 25-34 years (AHR = 1.69, 95%CI: 1.36, 2.09; and AHR = 1.45, 95%CI: 1.17, 1.81) and Birth type (twin) (AHR = 1.29, 95%CI: 1.02, 1.64) were statistically significant predictors for time to initiate complementary feeding.

Conclusions: Parity was identified as a statistically significant predictor for time to initiate complementary feeding. The incidence rate of early and late initiation of complementary feeding was higher among primipara than multipara mothers. Besides, the median time to initiate complementary feeding was earlier among primipara than multipara mothers. So, a parity based complementary feeding practice education should be advocated to tackle the gap and further reduce infants and children malnutrition. Relatively younger age and twin delivered mothers initiated complementary feeding against the recommendation. Therefore, intervention considering such statistically significant predictors could have a public health importance.

Keywords: Complementary feeding; Effect; Infants; Median time; Mothers; Parity.

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Conflict of interest statement

There is no conflict of interest among authors and all approved the submission of the manuscript.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Cox-Snell residual curve for the effect of parity on time to initiate complementary feeding among Mother-infant pairs in Awi Zone, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023 (N = 2196)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The overall Kaplan Meier survival estimates of the effect of parity on time to initiate complementary feeding among mother-infant pairs in Awi Zone, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023 (N = 2196)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Kaplan Meier survival estimates by age category for the effect of parity on time to initiate complementary feeding among mother-infant pairs in Awi Zone, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023 (N = 2196)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Kaplan Meier survival estimates by birth type for the effect of parity on time to initiate complementary feeding among mother-infant pairs in Awi Zone, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023 (N = 2196)
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