ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF RECOMMENDED COMPLIMENTARY FEEDING PRACTICES OF MOTHERS ADMITTED TO ST.PAUL’S MILLENNIUM MEDICAL COLLEGE GYNE/OBS WARD AND THOSE WITH THEIR CHILD AT PEDIATRICS DEPARTMENT

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND- Complimentary feeding is still the paramount way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of all infants. Investing time on this matter not only minimizes the mortality rate but also spares families from seeking medical care for preventable diseases that could affect their economy. In Ethiopia the knowledge and practice of proper complimentary feeding by mothers is not at its peak. In order to implement appropriate teaching and preventive measures there is the need to establish a baseline data of knowledge and practice towards this subject. OBJECTIVE: To assess practice and knowledge of recommended complimentary feeding practices among women admitted to Saint Paul hospital Addis Ababa Ethiopia, 2009 E.C. METHODS AND MATERIALS The study design is cross sectional hospital based study conducted to assess complementary feeding knowledge and practice of mothers to their young children in ST. Paul specialized hospital. The source population are Mothers admitted to St. Paul gynecology ward and those with their child at pediatrics department. The data will be collected by interviewer based questionnaire. TIME FRAME – The data was collected from January to March, 2017. RESULT This study revealed that timely initiation of complimentary feeding which is 6 months and above is 84.9%.With most respondent from Oromia region 35.6%. ANC attendance which was (96.1%) and health institutional delivery (89.3%). About 188(91.7%) of respondents know when to start feeding including less than, at and greater than six months. Most respondents 110(53.7%) know with what kind of food to start with including fish meat and vegetables 110(53.7%), followed by fruits and vegetables, 47(22.9%), while most respondents initiated cow’s milk at 5-8months 146(71.2%) CONCLUSION and recommendation Almost 84.9% of mothers initiated complementary feeding at sixth month of child age that is relatively higher ratings and most of them where educated about complimentary feeding from health workers 115(56.1%). In order to reduce the high infant mortality this level has to be increased. Maternal knowledge was appropriate and practice was also appropriate as a whole. KEY WORDS: Knowledge, Practice and appropriate complementary