Minimum Acceptable Diet and Associated Factors Among HIV-Exposed Children Aged 6–24 Months in Debre Tabor Town, Ethiopia

Introduction

Minimum acceptable diet is a composite indicator of minimum dietary diversity and minimum meal frequency; it is the proportion of children 6–24 months of age who receive a minimum diversified diet and minimum meal frequency (apart from breast milk).¹ Since infants and young children are in a fast growth and development stage, the World Health Organization (WHO) suggest the presentation of solid, semi-solid or delicate nourishment at six months² and by this newborn children and small children can get the minimum meal frequency, diversified diet, adequate eating regimen, and iron rich food sources.³

Improper feeding practices and high paces of infectious diseases are the chief reasons for lack of healthy nourishment during the initial two years of life.⁴ Under-nourishment is responsible for over half of all youth deaths and it is high among HIV-exposed newborn children after 6 months age, which could be because of inappropriate feeding practices.⁵

Ideal feeding practices among HIV-exposed children in the initial 2 years of life are essential to meet nutritional necessities⁴ and improve physical development and intellectual advancement.⁵ Study outcomes indicate that improper Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices in this window period is among the significant reasons for young children malnourishment⁶ bringing about changeless results of hindering, poor intellectual turn of events, and builds dangers of numerous interminable ailments.^7,8 The negative effect of malnutrition and unhealthiness during this period can limit profitability during adulthood by adversely influencing the future social and financial improvement of nations and furthermore can prompt intergenerational patterns of malnutrition.^9,10

HIV infection and disease is related with a danger of household-level food insecurity, which can influence the nutritional status of youngsters who need complementary food.¹¹ HIV positive children have likewise, more unfortunate nutritional results than HIV negative children. Both HIV exposure and HIV infection worsen youth under-nutrition. Children living with HIV or born to HIV positive mothers are a high-hazard group with exceptional needs.¹²

The 2016 WHO general newborn child feeding and HIV guidelines suggest that extending the period of breastfeeding to 24 months or beyond is likely to improve HIV-free survival among HIV-exposed infants, especially while diarrhea and pneumonia are significant causes of infant and child mortality; this recommendation applies if the mother is receiving ART and there is no evidence of clinical, immunity or viral failure. The recommendation of breast feeding in HIV- positive mothers is different when contrasted with the general population. In such manner, HIV positive mothers may be more sensitive on feeding practices to prevent their children from HIV infection. The sensitivity of mothers on feeding practice might lead to malnourished babies with illnesses such as diarrhea.^3,13 In Ethiopia, there is lack of evidence on the extent of minimum acceptable diet of HIV-exposed children. Therefore, the aim of this investigation was to evaluate the minimum acceptable diet among HIV-exposed children in Debre Tabor town, Ethiopia.

Materials and Methods

Study Area and Period

The study was conducted from March 15 to April 30,2019 in Debre Tabor town public health institutions providing ART and PMTCT services. Debre Tabor town is found in north-western Ethiopia in the Amhara regional state at 667 km distance from Addis Ababa city and is 97 km away from Bahir Dar city. In this town there are 3 governmental health centers, 1 general hospital, four health posts and five private clinics. Around 81,637 (male = 40,652 and female = 40,935) clients are expected to get health care services in these facilities. There are 18,987 households and the number of total reproductive age (15–49 years) females is estimated to be 20,000. Among the institutions, 3 governmental health centers and 1 general hospital in the town provide ART and PMTCT services. There are 4036 reproductive age mothers (15–49 years) on ART and 318 mothers getting PMTCT service during the study period.

Study Design

Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted.

Source Population

All HIV positive mother-child pairs in Debre Tabor town attending ART/PMTCT follow-up at public health facilities of Debre Tabor town.

Study Population

HIV positive mother-child pairs in Debre Tabor town attending ART/PMTCT follow-up at public health facilities of Debre Tabor town during the study period.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

The respondents who were eligible to participate in the study included mothers who have children aged 6–24 months and were residents of Debre Tabor town for a period of not less than 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria

Respondents who were mentally or physically disabled such as mothers who are unable to speak and/or listen, mothers with serious illness at the time of data collection.

Sample Size Determination

The sample size was calculated using Epi Info software, considering 95% confidence intervals (CIs), a 5% margin of error, and a 24% proportion of exclusive breastfeeding practice among HIV-exposed infants, estimated based on a study conducted in west Shewa which gave a maximum sample size¹⁴ among different proportions of complementary feeding indicators among HIV positive mothers in Ethiopia from different literature. With the incorporation of a 7% non-response rate (found from the same study where the proportion was taken), the total sample size was 300.

Sampling Procedure

Since the source population was nearly the same as the calculated sample size, the research was conducted on all source population.

Study Variables

Dependent Variable

Minimum acceptable diet

Independent Variables

• Socio-demographic and socio-economic factors (age, marital status, family size, level of education, occupation, and income level)
• Maternal knowledge on recommended child feeding
• Maternal and child related factors (maternal and childhood illness, maternal workload)
• Cultural norms and beliefs (presence of prohibited foods for infants, familial and cultural acceptance)
• Obstetric factors (ANC, PNC, birth order, parity, place of delivery)

Data Collection Procedure and Measurement

After written informed consent was obtained, the data on both child feeding practice and associated factors were taken using a pre-tested structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Data were collected from all eligible mothers as they attended the institution for follow-up. Recommended child feeding practice was assessed based on compliance to WHO recommended practices for timely initiation (introduce complementary feeding at six months), minimum meal frequency (fed minimum of three meals/day and four times/day for children aged 6–8 months and 9 months and above, respectively) and minimum meal diversity (fed four or more foods within 24 hours)¹⁵ using 24 hours dietary recall method. Complementary feeding practice was appropriate if all the three indicators mentioned above were fulfilled otherwise it was considered as inappropriate.

Operational Definitions

HIV-Exposed Infant or Child

An infant or child born to a mother living with HIV until the infant or child is reliably excluded from being HIV infected.

Complementary Foods

Any solid or semi-solid or soft foods which are given to the child.

Minimum Dietary Diversity

Children 6–24 months of age who consume from 4 or more of the 7 food groups (grains/tubers/roots, legumes/nuts, milk/diary product, eggs vitamin A rich, flesh foods and other fruits and vegetables) with 24 hours dietary recall.

Minimum Meal Frequency

Children of age 6–8 months fed a minimum of three meals per day and children aged 9 months and above fed four times per day within a 24-hourdietary recall period.

Minimum Acceptable Diet

A composite indicator of minimum dietary diversity and minimum meal frequency. Proportion of children 6–24 months of age who received a minimum diversified diet and minimum meal frequency (apart from breast milk).

Good Knowledge of Child Feeding

When the respondents correctly answer 60% or above out of 10 questions about MTCT and child feeding knowledge questions.

Poor Knowledge of Child Feeding

When the respondents correctly answer below 60% of questions about MTCT and child feeding knowledge questions (24).

Young Child

Child less than 24 months of age.

Infant

Child less than 12 months of age.

Maternal Workload

Perceived presence of work load by mothers.

Data Quality Control

The questionnaire was adapted first in English by the investigators and then translated to Amharic by another individual who is native to Amharic and has experience in translation. The questionnaire was translated back to English by another individual in order to maintain its conceptual equivalence. Two days training was given to the data collectors on how to collect the data and keep confidentiality of the respondents. Moreover, during data collection the principal investigator was closely supervising the activity on a daily basis. At the end of each data collection day the principal investigator checked the completeness of filled questionnaires and whether recorded information makes sense or not to ensure the quality of data collected.

Data Analysis

After data were collected, entering into Epi Info software version 3.1 (Lauritsen JM and Bruus M., Odense, Denmark, 2003–2005) was done and then exported to SPSS version 23 (IBM® SPSS® Statistics, Armonk, NY: IBM Corp) software for data processing and analysis. Descriptive statistics like frequency, proportions, mean and standard deviation was computed accordingly. The results were described using table, chart, graph and narration. Bi-variable logistic regression was carried out to screen candidate variables for the multiple logistic regression analysis and p-value ≤0.25 was taken as a cut-off point. Then multi-variable logistic regression was computed to identify independent predictors of inappropriate minimum dietary diversity and meal frequency feeding practices. A p-value <0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.

Results

Socio-Demographic Characteristics

A total of 287 mother–child pairs were included in the study with a response rate of 95.7%. The mean (± SD) age of the mothers was 31.5 m (±4.99) years. The mean (±SD) family size of the households was 4.42 (±1.52), and about 81.5% of households had ≤5 family members. Most of the mothers had primary education (34.8%), married (67.9%) and housewife (32.4%). Regarding to economic status based on average monthly income, about more than half of respondents (57.3%) earn USD111.1 and higher monthly, whereas 11.3% respondents earn 37.0 and lesser USD (Table 1). About 245 (85.4%) of mothers have disclosed their HIV status to their families. About 10 (3.3%) of mothers reported that they were having breast infection and 73 (24.3%) of mothers reported to have work load. Two hundred fifty one (83.7%) of mothers were having ANC follow up.

Table 1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Respondents in Debre Tabor Town, Ethiopia, 2019

Child Feeding Practices

During the survey mothers with children aged 6–24 months were also asked retrospectively about child feeding practices. From the total interviewed mothers, about 76% and 58.2% of children were fed with appropriate meal frequency and recommended dietary diversity, respectively. One hundred (34.8%) children were fed minimum acceptable diet and 59.9% of children consumed iron rich or fortified food (Table 2).

Table 2 Child Feeding Practices of HIV Positive Mothers in DebreTabor Town, Ethiopia, 2019

Mothers’ Infant and Young Child Feeding Knowledge

A total of ten questions were included to assess the knowledge status about complementary feeding (CF) practices. Out of the total 203 (71.0%), 95% CI (66.1, 76.2) of the respondents had good knowledge on CF practices and 83 (29.0%), 95% CI (23.8, 33.9) of respondents had poor knowledge.

Minimum Acceptable Diet and Associated Factors

Assessment of association between child feeding practices and respondents’ socio-demographic and economic status, knowledge, and other maternal and child characteristics was made by employing bi-variable logistic regression to screen candidate variables and multi-variable binary logistic regression model to get independent association.

The bi-variable logistic regression analysis showed that knowledge, breast infection/problem, ANC follow-up, disclosure of HIV status, child feeding difficulties, information about child feeding, maternal workload, income, and fear of transmission were found to have association (P< 0.25) with inappropriate meal diversity and meal frequency feeding. In multi-variable logistic regression poor knowledge with AOR = 0.32, 95% CI (0.17–0.58), maternal workload with AOR = 0.38, 95% CI (0.19–0.75) and adequate information about child feeding from health care providers with AOR = 0.46, 95% CI (0.26–0.81) were statistically significant predictors of minimum acceptable diet of HIV-exposed children in the study area (Table 3).

Table 3 Multi-Variable Logistic Regression Showing Associated Factors of Minimum Acceptable Diet in Debre Tabor Town, Ethiopia, 2019

Discussion

In this study the prevalence of MDD and MMF was 58.2%, and 76% respectively which was higher than the findings from southern Ethiopia (MDD=34.4% and MMF=42.7%).¹⁶ The discrepancy might be due to the time between studies and could be due to higher maternal literacy rate (43.03% of mothers were illiterate in the study done in southern Ethiopia; whereas in this study illiterate mothers were only 17.8%) and utilization of institutional delivery in the latter study areas which may increase exposure of health information and improved mothers’ knowledge about infant and young child feeding.

In this study the proportion of mothers timely introduced complementary feeding for their children was 68.3% which is slightly consistent with a study conducted from Kenya (70%).¹⁷ But the finding was lower than the report from Debre Markos (84.7%)¹⁸ and it was higher than the report from southern Ethiopia (42%).¹⁶ This difference could be explained by better maternal education in which 82.2% of mothers in the current study versus 52.5% in the study from southern Ethiopia had formal education, and utilization of institutional delivery and improved living style depends on educational status.

As the logistic regression illustrated that the inappropriate MDD and MMF feeding was more likely practiced by respondents who did not know about MTCT of HIV, benefit of breast feeding and appropriate MDD and MMF feeding compared to mothers who had good knowledge. Many studies conducted in different countries revealed that mothers who had knowledge on optimal IYCF and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV were more likely to feed their children appropriately than those who did not have knowledge.^8,12,17

Minimum acceptable diet was negatively influenced by maternal workload. Mothers who had no workload are 62% less likely to practice inappropriate complementary feeding than those mothers who had a workload. This could be due to quality of the alternative child care or a relationship between poverty and the necessity of working much.

In addition, inappropriate MDD and MMF feeding was 54% less likely practiced among mothers who gain information about child feeding recommendations from health care providers as compared with those who did not gain the information. This is because mothers who had exposure to health information from health care providers and educational materials that might lead to avoiding inappropriate feeding practices. Complementary feeding counseling during critical periods of pregnancy, including antenatal care visits discourages inappropriate MDD and MMF and promotes appropriate and optimal child feeding practices. It may improve mothers’ knowledge and change negative culture which is the main fertile grounds to increase mothers’ confidence in challenging the community attitude towards inappropriate feeding practices which ultimately improves the likelihood of mothers’ adherence to optimal IYCF recommendations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study revealed that minimum acceptable diet (minimum dietary diversity and minimum meal frequency) were lower than the WHO recommendation for good practice of complementary feeding. Knowledge, maternal workload and information related to complementary feeding were associated factors with minimum acceptable diet of HIV-exposed children.

Limitations of the Study

The 24-h recall method may cause over-estimation of the proportion of complementary feeding practices due to recall and social desirability biases. In addition, respondents were asked retrospectively about breastfeeding practices so there may be recall bias which may affect the result. Even though we had sampled almost all HIV positive mother-child pairs in Debre Tabor town attending ART/PMTCT follow-up at public health facilities of Debre Tabor town, the study was underpowered with 287 participants interviewed.