Paternal Participation in Optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding Practice and Associated Factors: A Community-Based Analytical Cross-Sectional Study from Chronically Food-Insecure Communities, Ethiopia

Abstract

Evidence shows that paternal participation helps to improve the utilization of optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices. However, little has been known about chronically food-insecure (CFI) communities. The aim of this study to assess paternal participation in optimal IYCF practice and associated factors in the Dodota district of the Arsi zone, Ethiopia, 2022. A community-based cross-sectional study involving 1152 fathers was conducted after ethical clearance was obtained. Measures of optimal IYCF are based on criteria established by the World Health Organization. We analyzed the data using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Results indicated that paternal participation in optimal IYCF practice was 26.2%. The percentages of early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF), exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), and minimum acceptable diet (MAD) were respectively 72.9%, 66.1%, and 37.3%. Paternal knowledge of IYCF (AOR:3.2, P <0.01), education (AOR:2.1, P<0.05), income (AOR:1.8, P<0.05), child's age (AOR 1.7, P<0.05), and the number of children (AOR:2.1, P<0.05) were the predictors of the outcome. Large-scale, in-depth studies should be required to justify the result unequivocally.