PREVALENCE OF MINIMUM DIETARY DIVERSITY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG CHILDREN AGED 6-23 MONTHS, IN WOLKITE, ETHIOPIA, 2026

Abstract

Background: Dietary diversity is a key of high-quality diets and an important indicator of appropriate complementary feeding. Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) is defined as the consumption of foods from at least five of the eight recommended food groups within a 24- hour period. Globally, only a small proportion of children receive nutritionally adequate and diversified diets, and more than two-thirds of malnutrition-related child deaths are linked to inappropriate feeding practices during the first two years of life. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of minimum dietary diversity among children aged 6–23 months remains low. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the level of minimum dietary diversity practice and identify associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Wolkite Town, Ethiopia. Objective: To determine the prevalence of minimum dietary diversity and identify associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Wolkite Town, Ethiopia, 2026. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1 to January 30/ 2026 among 192 children aged 6–23 months selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire based on World Health Organization infant and young child feeding (IYCF) indicators by google forms. Data were cleaned in Microsoft Excel and analyzed using SPSS version 27. Bivariable logistic regression identified candidate variables (p < 0.25) for multivariable analysis. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated, and statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of minimum dietary diversity was 26.6%. The most commonly consumed food groups were grains, roots, tubers, and plantains (90.6%) and legumes, nuts, and seeds (72.9%). Maternal postnatal care attendance (AOR = 9.96; 95% CI: 4.74–20.93) and adequate maternal knowledge of IYCF (AOR = 6.07; 95% CI: 2.06–17.83) were significantly associated with achieving minimum dietary diversity. Children born with a birth interval of less than two years were significantly less likely to receive diversified diets (AOR = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.03–0.66). Conclusion: Minimum dietary diversity among children aged 6–23 months in Wolkite Town remains low. Maternal knowledge of IYCF, postnatal care utilization, and optimal birth spacing play critical roles in improving dietary diversity.