Abstract:
The Inappropriate complementary feeding practices are one of the major causes of child growth
retardation in the first two years of life. This study is done to access the factors associated with
low minimum acceptable diet among 6-23 months old children in Rwanda, using the data of
(CFSVA 2015) and estimate the prevalence of the WHO complementary feeding indicators
continued breastfeeding at one year, timely introduction of complementary feeding, minimum
dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency and minimal acceptable diet among 6-23 months old
children in Rwanda using the data of Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis
and Nutrition Survey 2015.
Cross-sectional data on 2393 children aged 6-23 months was obtained from the 2010 Rwanda
Demographic and Health Survey. Cox Proportional Hazard models were used to assess the
association of the WHO indicators and linear child growth and to identify the most important
determinants of inappropriate complementary feeding practices. This secondary analysis showed
that most of the complementary feeding practices were inappropriate for children of 6-23
months in Rwanda. The minimum dietary diversity reached a percentage of 29%, the minimum
meal frequency was reached by 32% of the children and the minimal acceptable diet by 15%,
which means that less than two in ten children of 6-23 months consumed an acceptable diet.
Timely introduction of solid, semi-solid and soft foods was reached by almost 32.4% of the
sample and the continued breastfeeding rate at 1 year was rather high (92.1%). Multivariate
analysis showed that age of the child, maternal education, maternal age and household wealth
index were important determinants of inappropriate complementary feeding practices.
Especially younger children (6-11 months), children from the Western region of Rwanda and
children living on the highest altitudes need to be targeted with infant and young child feeding
interventions. Further in-depth research is needed on dietary quantity and quality to be able to
understand specific nutrient gaps in the diet of these children.
