Only one in four lactating mothers met the minimum dietary diversity score in the pastoral community, Afar region, Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Maternal dietary feeding practice is one of the proxy indicators of maternal nutrient adequacy and it improves outcomes for both mothers and their offspring. The minimum maternal dietary diversity score of lactating women is defined as when the mother ate at least four and above food groups from the nine food groups 24 h preceding the survey regardless of the portion size. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the minimum dietary diversity score (MDDS) and its predictors among lactating mothers in the Pastoralist community, Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed on 360 lactating mothers using a multi-stage sampling technique from 5 January 2020 to 10 February 2020. Data were collected using questionnaires and anthropometry measurements. Data were entered using EPI-data 4.6.02 and exported into SPSS version 25. Statistical significance was declared at P-value <0⋅05 at multivariable logistic regression. Only one in four lactating mothers met the MDDS. The majority of them consumed cereals in the preceding 24 h of data collection. The most important predictors were maternal meal frequency (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 6⋅26; 95 % confidence interval (CI) (3⋅51, 11⋅15)), antenatal care (ANC) follow-up one to three times and four and above times (AOR: 2⋅58; 95 % CI (1⋅24, 5⋅36), 4⋅77 (1⋅90, 11⋅95), respectively) and secondary paternal education (AOR 2⋅97; 95 % CI (1⋅44, 6⋅11)). The MDDS among lactating mothers was low. Paternal education, maternal meal frequency and ANC follow-up were the significant predictors. Therefore, to improve maternal dietary diversity score emphasis should be given to those predictors.

Mulaw GF ，Feleke FW ，Mare KU 《-》

Nearly one-third of lactating mothers are suffering from undernutrition in pastoral community, Afar region, Ethiopia: Community-based cross-sectional study.

Mulaw GF ，Mare KU ，Anbesu EW 《PLoS One》

Dietary Diversity and Meal Frequency Practices among Children Aged 6-23 Months in Agro Pastoral Communities in Afar Region, Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Study.

Wuneh AG ，Ahmed W ，Bezabih AM ，Reddy PS ... -  《-》

Dietary diversity, nutritional status and associated factors among lactating mothers visiting government health facilities at Dessie town, Amhara region, Ethiopia.

Seid A ，Cherie HA 《PLoS One》

Feeding practices, nutritional status and associated factors of lactating women in Samre Woreda, South Eastern Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia.

Haileslassie K ，Mulugeta A ，Girma M 《Nutrition Journal》