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Maternal Time Use Drives Suboptimal Complementary Feeding Practices in the El Niño-Affected Eastern Ethiopia Community

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Listed:
  • Asnake Ararsa Irenso

    (Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Science, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Melbourne, VIC 3125, Australia
    School of Public Health, Haramaya University, Harar P.O. Box 235, Ethiopia)

  • Shiferaw Letta

    (School of Nursing, Haramaya University, Harar P.O. Box 235, Ethiopia)

  • Addisu S. Chemeda

    (Department of Food Process Engineering and Postharvest Technology, Ambo University, Ambo P.O. Box 19, Ethiopia)

  • Abiyot Asfaw

    (School of Nursing, Haramaya University, Harar P.O. Box 235, Ethiopia)

  • Gudina Egata

    (School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 9086, Ethiopia)

  • Nega Assefa

    (School of Nursing, Haramaya University, Harar P.O. Box 235, Ethiopia)

  • Karen J. Campbell

    (Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Science, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Melbourne, VIC 3125, Australia)

  • Rachel Laws

    (Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Science, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Melbourne, VIC 3125, Australia)

Abstract

Ethiopia is affected by recurrent drought and food-insecurity crises, including El Niño. El Niño started in mid-2014, worsened in 2015, and continued in 2016, leading to a widespread food-insecurity emergency resulting in a surge in the rate of acute malnutrition in infants due to suboptimal feeding practices. This study explored how El Niño influenced complementary feeding practices in the eastern Ethiopia community from March to September 2016. It was an exploratory qualitative study with a basic interpretative qualitative approach. A general inductive approach was used for the analysis. The study involved 11 focus group discussions (FGD) with a total of 76 people, including three with mothers, three with Health Development Army (HDA) leaders, two with fathers, two with traditional birth attendants, and one with religious leaders. El Niño resulted in failed crops and loss of livestock, resulting in reduced dietary diversity and meal frequency. El Niño resulted in suboptimal complementary feeding practices by reducing food access and altering livelihood and coping strategies, reducing the time mothers allocated to child feeding, keeping them away from home, and stressing community health services. The maternal suboptimal time allocation is central to the poor complementary feeding practices. Thus, the women should be supported with climate-resilient livelihood options in their villages, allowing them to feed their children and attend education sessions with HDA leaders.

Suggested Citation

  • Asnake Ararsa Irenso & Shiferaw Letta & Addisu S. Chemeda & Abiyot Asfaw & Gudina Egata & Nega Assefa & Karen J. Campbell & Rachel Laws, 2022. "Maternal Time Use Drives Suboptimal Complementary Feeding Practices in the El Niño-Affected Eastern Ethiopia Community," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:7:p:3937-:d:779705
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Meera Shekar & Jakub Kakietek & Julia Dayton Eberwein & Dylan Walters, 2017. "An Investment Framework for Nutrition," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 26069.
    2. Sunaina Dhingra & Prabhu L. Pingali, 2021. "Effects of short birth spacing on birth-order differences in child stunting: Evidence from India," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 118(8), pages 2017834118-, February.
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