Complementary feeding indicators among children aged 6-23 months: a cross-sectional study assessing minimum dietary diversity, minimum acceptable diet and dietary patterns in Njombe Town Council, Tanzania.

OBJECTIVES

This study assessed the minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF), minimum acceptable diet (MAD) and dietary patterns among children aged 6-23 months in Njombe Town Council.

DESIGN

Community-based cross-sectional study.

SETTING

This study was conducted in the Njombe Town Council, which is located in the Njombe region in the southern part of Tanzania.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 330 caregivers of children aged 6-23 months were recruited using a multistage probability sampling technique. Data were collected from January to March 2021 using a structured questionnaire adapted from the Process for Promotion of Child Feeding (ProPAN) manual.

INTERVENTIONS: None.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes were the prevalence of MDD, MMF and MAD, assessed according to the 2021 WHO infant and young child feeding indicators. Secondary outcomes included food group consumption and dietary patterns identified using principal component analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 330 caregivers of children aged 6-23 months participated in the current study. Nearly half (43.9%; n=145) were aged between 30 and 49 years, with a mean age of 30.28 years and an SD of ±6.119 years. Only 26.36% of children aged 6-23 months achieved MDD, 71.5% achieved MMF and 18.48% met MAD, with a mean dietary diversity score of 3.35±1.6. Predominant foods included grains, roots and tubers (80.91%) and breast milk (90%), while dairy products were the least consumed (7.27%). Three dietary patterns emerged: cereals, roots and tubers; dairy products and eggs; and vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables.

CONCLUSION

The MDD and MAD attainment in Njombe Town Council are suboptimal, reflecting reliance on staple foods and limited nutrient-rich options. These findings highlight the need for context-specific interventions, including strengthened nutrition education, promotion of diversified diets and agricultural strategies that improve access to nutrient-dense foods to enhance infant and young child nutrition.