The Association Between Employment Status and Timely Initiation of Infant Complementary Feeding Practice in Addis Zemen Town, Ethiopia, 2018.

Abstract Background Complementary feeding is giving other foods or fluids to infants in addition to breast milk at six months of age. For better health and development of children, it should be timely (at six months of age). Thus, this study aimed to assess timely initiation of complementary feeding and associated factors among mothers with children aged 6–23 months in Addis Zemen Town. Methods A Community based cross-sectional study design was conducted from March 21 to April 10, 2018. Researchers recruited four hundred sixteen mothers whose child was aged from 6 to 23 months by systematic random sampling technique. We used interviewer-administrated questionnaire and then the data were coded and entered to EpiData version 4.2. It was exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Binary logistic regression model was fitted and variables p-values < 0.05 with multi-variable logistic regression analysis were considered as statistically significant at 95% confidence interval (CI). Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was used to measure the strength of association. Result Timely initiation of complementary feeding was 57.7% with 95% CI (52.9, 62.3). In this study Being employed (AOR 2.34(1.07–5.16), visit antenatal care clinic four times and above (AOR 2.36(1.44, 3.85)), having good knowledge on complementary feeding (AOR 3.47(2.20, 5.48)), and having favorable attitude towards complementary feeding practice (AOR 3.87(2.46, 6.11) were found to be statically significantly associated with timely initiation of complementary feeding practice. Conclusion Timely initiation of complementary feeding practice was lower than WHO cut of point. Educate women, enhance antenatal visits and work to increase mothers’ knowledge are recommended. Additionally, special focus is better to be given for unemployed mothers.