Influence of Maternal Knowledge and Skills on Mixed Feeding Practices among Infants below 6 Months in Wajir County

Abstract

Wajir County is estimation to have 749 deaths of infants below 6 months every year. In 2014, information from KDHS revealed that only 32% of infants below six months are wholly breastfed, their mothers introduce other foods, that is, weans their children instead of exclusive breastfeeding. The purpose of this study was to determine the how the mother/caregiver’s knowledge and skills influenced mixed feeding practices among infants below 6 months. The study adopted a descriptive cross- sectional study design in data collection through a quantitative approach, and the study target population comprised all the 802 mothers with infants below six months from which a sample size of 260 respondents was drawn. The data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. It was found that overall, the caregivers’ knowledge of all the mixed feeding indicators for a child with normal nutrition status was low. The knowledge was particularly low on continued breastfeeding, minimum meal frequency, minimum dietary diversity, and on how to feed a child during illness. Knowledge score at the time of introduction to mixed feeding and on giving vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables was however high. It was recommended that the county Department of Health of Wajir, through the nutrition unit, needs to scale up Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) on mixed feeding targeting caregivers of children below 6 months of age with appropriate MIYCN information. The primary focus should be on continued breastfeeding, minimum meal frequency, and minimum dietary diversity