Gender differences in nutritional status and determinants among infants (6–11 m): a cross-sectional study in two regions in Ethiopia

Table 2 Infant and young child feeding practices in Oromiya and SNNP^a regions of Ethiopia, 2015

	Total population	Boys	Girls	p-value
	n = 2036	n = 1049	n = 987	p-value
IYCF indicators
Initiation of BF < 1 h %	75.7	76.9	74.5	0.196
Currently breastfeeding (CBF) %	99.7	99.8	99.5	0.275
Exclusive BF (EBF) at least 6 m %	77.6	77.0	78.2	0.524
EBF in months, mean (SD)	5.9 ± 1.2	5.9 ± 1.4	5.8 ± 0.8	0.344
Introduction to soft and semi-solid foods
Age (months) CF introduced^b, mean (SD)	5.9 ± 1.2	5.9 ± 1.3	6.0 ± 1.2	0.206
Introduction CF (6–8 months)^c%	87.2	87.3	87.0	0.894
Minimum dietary diversity (MDD)^d%	7.0	6.2	7.8	0.164
Minimum meal frequency (MMF)^e%	75.3	74.8	75.9	0.607
Minimum acceptable diet (MAD)^f%	6.8	5.9	7.8	0.095

^aSouthern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples; CBF: currently breastfeeding (at the time of the survey); EBF: exclusive breastfeeding; IBF: initiation of breastfeeding; MDD: minimum dietary diversity; MMF: minimum meal frequency; MAD: minimum acceptable diet
^bn = 1998: Boys n = 1031, Girls n = 967
^cReceived CF: children from 6 to 8 months who received solid, semi-solid, or soft foods in addition to breastfeeding
^dMinimum dietary diversity: consumption of 4 or more food groups from the 7 food groups, namely: grains, roots, and tubers; legumes and nuts; dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese); flesh foods (meat, fish, poultry, liver/organ meats); eggs; vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables; and other fruits and vegetables
^eMinimum meal frequency: consumption of 2 or more (at age 6–8 months), 3 or more (at age 9–23 months) solid or semi-solid feeds for breastfeeding children, or 4 or more solid or semi-solid or milk feeds for non-breastfeeding children at age 6–23 months
^fMinimum acceptable diet: a combination of minimum dietary diversity and meal frequency

ISSN: 1471-2458