Abstract:
Nutrition of infant and young child is a Public Health issue in Rwanda. The sufficient quantity and quality of foods is recommended for better growth and development of child. Dietary diversity is a key element for quality diet. Inappropriate feeding practice of infant and young child has negative impact on child health. Among the consequences, under nutrition and increase of susceptibility to infectious diseases are most frequent. The study aimed to identify factors associated with Minimum Accepted Diet (MAD) was performed to the data from mothers and care givers of children aged 6 to 23 months during the fifth Demographic and Health Survey conducted in Rwanda in 2014 - 2015. Total number of study population was 1171. The results were obtained by processing data with STATA Version 13.0. Descriptive analysis was done and presented in proportion. For logistic model, an Odd Ratio (OR) with 95% of Confidence Interval (CI), p. value less than 0.05 were used. The prevalence of MAD was 23.74%. Children of 18 - 23 months were 2,46 times more likely to have MAD (OR = 2,46; CI at 95 % = 1.71 - 3.54; p. value = 0.001) compared to those age of 6 - 11 months. Children from Northern Province were 2,89 times more likely to have MAD (OR = 2,89; CI at 95 % = 1,77 - 4,71; p. value = 0.001) compared to those from Western Province. Children whose mothers had higher education level were 3.12 more likely to have MAD (OR = 3,12; CI at 95% = 1.17 - 8.46; p. value = 0.023) compared to those to children whose mothers were no education. Children from richest family were 4,10 more likely to have MAD (OR = 4,10, CI at 95% = 2.39 - 7.05; p. value = 0.001) compared to those from poorest wealth index.
The consumption of variety foods with recommended times per day increases the chances of growth and development in greater harmony and reduce the risk of malnutrition. Optimum feeding with MAD is important and more effort must be invested to introduction of complementary feeding, promotion of education and development program to assist poorest, for development of family in order to achieve sustainable and optimum feeding for all children of 6 to 23 months in Rwanda.
