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Limited Access to Child-Feeding Counseling Services Hinders Health in Ethiopia

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A study conducted in Ethiopia by researchers at the University of Gondar has highlighted the critical issue of limited access to child-feeding counseling services for breastfeeding mothers. The research, published in the BMC Health Services Research, found that only 36.94% of mothers in Ethiopia had access to child-feeding counseling services during the 2019 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). The study revealed several factors that determine the accessibility of these services, including wealth index, maternal education, place of delivery, marital status, place of residence, community poverty level, antenatal care visits, and regions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The total weighted samples of 3979 participants were included in this study, based on data from the 2019 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS).
  • The prevalence of child-feeding counseling services among mothers in Ethiopia during the 2019 EDHS was 36.94%.
  • Wealth index (AOR = 1.46; 95% CI (1.04-2.06)) was identified as a significant factor associated with child-feeding counseling service.
  • Maternal education, with primary education (AOR = 1.27; 95% CI (1.03-1.58)) and secondary and higher education (AOR = 1.56; 95% CI (1.17-2.08)) shown to be associated with child-feeding counseling service.
  • Place of delivery, with higher odds observed among mothers who delivered at health institutions (AOR = 8.4; 95% CI (6.73-10.49)).
  • Marital status, with ever-married mothers showing higher odds (AOR = 3.28; 95 CI (1.12-9.59)).
  • Place of residence, with urban/resident mothers showing higher odds (AOR = 2.06; 95% CI (1.39-3.05)).
  • Community poverty level, with middle (AOR = 1.38; 95% CI (1.07-1.78)) and richer (AOR = 1.54 (1.19-1.99)) levels associated with child-feeding counseling service.
  • Antenatal care visits, with 1-4 visits (AOR = 2.90; 95% CI (2.21-3.84)), 5-8 visits (AOR = 3.33; 95% CI (2.40-4.61)), and more than 8 visits (AOR = 3.40; 95% CI (1.79-6.46)) showing higher odds.
  • Regions, with Tigray (AOR = 2.65; 95% CI (1.36-5.14)), Afar (AOR = 2.57; 95% CI (1.34-4.92)), Amhara (AOR = 1.94; 95% CI (1.02-3.65)), and Addis Ababa (AOR = 3.9; 95% CI (1.84-8.28)) identified as associated with child-feeding counseling service.

Statistics:

  • 36.94% of mothers in Ethiopia had access to child-feeding counseling services during the 2019 EDHS.
  • 3979 participants were included in this study based on data from the 2019 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS).
  • A multilevel multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify the determinant factors of child-feeding counseling services.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. University of Gondar Researchers Further Understanding of Data Analytics (Access to child-feeding counseling service and determinant factors among breastfeeding mothers in Ethiopia: a multilevel complex data analysis of 2019 Ethiopian mini ...). OBGYN & Reproduction Week. September 1, 2025; p 974.
  • Access to child-feeding counseling service and determinant factors among breastfeeding mothers in Ethiopia: a multilevel complex data analysis of 2019 Ethiopian mini demographic and health survey. BMC Health Services Research, 2025,25(1):1-8.

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