Factors Affecting Complementary Feeding Practices of Children 6-23 Months in Developing Countries. A Review

Abstract

Good nutrition is important for healthy development of children, especially within the first two years of life. At 6 months of age, children should be introduced to nutrition-adequate and safe complementary foods in addition to breastfeeding. Appropriate complementary feeding practices are important in reducing the incidence of malnutrition and improving the health and growth outcome of children. However, few children receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods in many countries, with low indicators of complementary feeding practices. The objectives of the review were to systematically investigate, review and integrate findings from different studies so as to determine factors affecting complementary feeding practices of children aged 6-23 months in developing countries. A literature search on factors affecting complementary feeding practices in developing countries was undertaken in PubMed, Elsevier, and Google Scholar to identify relevant studies between 2014 and 2024. Twenty-five (25) studies were initially retrieved, with sixteen studies that met the study inclusion criteria chosen for data synthesis. Several factors were found to affect complementary feeding practices of children aged 6-23 months. These were; age of child, education level of mothers/caregivers, marital status of mother, occupation of mother, knowledge of caregiver, postnatal care, mothers’ decision-making role on use of family income, maternal beliefs, poverty/wealth status, household size, place of birth, accessibility to media and internet, support, and place of residence. Mothers with higher educational attainment were more likely to adopt appropriate feeding practices due to better access to information and decision-making skills. Similarly, families with greater financial resources could afford diverse and nutritious complementary foods, while access to postnatal care provided mothers with critical guidance on feeding practices. To improve complementary feeding practices, policies should focus on expanding maternal education initiatives, enhancing household economic empowerment, and integrating nutrition counseling into postnatal care services. Governments and health agencies need to invest in community-based programs and media campaigns that promote awareness and support for caregivers.