Iron-rich food consumption and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Sierra Leone: multi-level logistic regression analysis

Abstract Background Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide. Also, iron deficiency is a significant public health problem in low- and middle-income countries. Thus, this study aimed to assess iron-rich food consumption and associated factors among children aged 6–23 mon...

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Main Authors: Birhan Ewunu Semagn, Zenebe Abebe Gebreegziabher, Wondwosen Abey Abebaw
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-09-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16737-x
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author Birhan Ewunu Semagn
Zenebe Abebe Gebreegziabher
Wondwosen Abey Abebaw
author_facet Birhan Ewunu Semagn
Zenebe Abebe Gebreegziabher
Wondwosen Abey Abebaw
author_sort Birhan Ewunu Semagn
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide. Also, iron deficiency is a significant public health problem in low- and middle-income countries. Thus, this study aimed to assess iron-rich food consumption and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Sierra Leone. Method This study is a cross-sectional study based on data from the Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey dataset with a total weighted sample of 2622 children aged 6–23 months. Data cleaning, coding, and labeling were done using STATA version 14 software. A multilevel logistic regression model was employed to identify associated factors. Result Almost half (53.38%) of children aged between 6–23 months consumed iron-rich foods. The odds of iron rich food consumption were high among children in the age group of 12–17 months (AOR = 4.81, 95% CI: 3.67, 6.31) and 18–23 months (AOR = 9.3, 95% CI: 6.55, 13.2), and who fed minimum acceptable diet (AOR = 22.5, 95% CI: 11.65, 43.46). Moreover, a child from a mother who had work (AOR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.08, 2.06), and with a mother who had more than four ANC visits during her pregnancy of the most recent live birth (AOR = 1.87; 95%CI: 1.36—2.55) had higher odds of iron-rich food consumption compared to their counterparts. On the other hand, children who were breastfeeding (AOR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.53, 0.97), and mothers aged 15–19 (AOR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.85) decreased the odds of iron rich food consumption. Conclusion Consumption of iron-rich food is low among children aged 6–23 months in Sierra Leone. Iron-rich food consumption among children was significantly associated with maternal occupation, child’s age, child’s breastfeeding status, taking drugs for intestinal parasites, minimum acceptable diet, frequency, and timing of ANC, and region. Thus, special emphasis should be given to those children aged between 6–11 months, currently breastfeeding, children who did not get the minimum acceptable diet, and children from women who did not have work.
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spelling doaj.art-c7fcc7c634d64593909be5a3a70ad80f2023-11-20T11:08:57ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-09-0123111010.1186/s12889-023-16737-xIron-rich food consumption and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Sierra Leone: multi-level logistic regression analysisBirhan Ewunu Semagn0Zenebe Abebe Gebreegziabher1Wondwosen Abey Abebaw2Department of Public Health, School of Public Health, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Berhan UniversityDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Berhan UniversityDepartment of Public Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Woldia UniversityAbstract Background Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide. Also, iron deficiency is a significant public health problem in low- and middle-income countries. Thus, this study aimed to assess iron-rich food consumption and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Sierra Leone. Method This study is a cross-sectional study based on data from the Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey dataset with a total weighted sample of 2622 children aged 6–23 months. Data cleaning, coding, and labeling were done using STATA version 14 software. A multilevel logistic regression model was employed to identify associated factors. Result Almost half (53.38%) of children aged between 6–23 months consumed iron-rich foods. The odds of iron rich food consumption were high among children in the age group of 12–17 months (AOR = 4.81, 95% CI: 3.67, 6.31) and 18–23 months (AOR = 9.3, 95% CI: 6.55, 13.2), and who fed minimum acceptable diet (AOR = 22.5, 95% CI: 11.65, 43.46). Moreover, a child from a mother who had work (AOR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.08, 2.06), and with a mother who had more than four ANC visits during her pregnancy of the most recent live birth (AOR = 1.87; 95%CI: 1.36—2.55) had higher odds of iron-rich food consumption compared to their counterparts. On the other hand, children who were breastfeeding (AOR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.53, 0.97), and mothers aged 15–19 (AOR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.85) decreased the odds of iron rich food consumption. Conclusion Consumption of iron-rich food is low among children aged 6–23 months in Sierra Leone. Iron-rich food consumption among children was significantly associated with maternal occupation, child’s age, child’s breastfeeding status, taking drugs for intestinal parasites, minimum acceptable diet, frequency, and timing of ANC, and region. Thus, special emphasis should be given to those children aged between 6–11 months, currently breastfeeding, children who did not get the minimum acceptable diet, and children from women who did not have work.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16737-xIron-rich foodComplementary feedingMicro-nutrient deficiencyChildrenAfricaSierra Leone
spellingShingle Birhan Ewunu Semagn
Zenebe Abebe Gebreegziabher
Wondwosen Abey Abebaw
Iron-rich food consumption and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Sierra Leone: multi-level logistic regression analysis
BMC Public Health
Iron-rich food
Complementary feeding
Micro-nutrient deficiency
Children
Africa
Sierra Leone
title Iron-rich food consumption and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Sierra Leone: multi-level logistic regression analysis
title_full Iron-rich food consumption and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Sierra Leone: multi-level logistic regression analysis
title_fullStr Iron-rich food consumption and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Sierra Leone: multi-level logistic regression analysis
title_full_unstemmed Iron-rich food consumption and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Sierra Leone: multi-level logistic regression analysis
title_short Iron-rich food consumption and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Sierra Leone: multi-level logistic regression analysis
title_sort iron rich food consumption and associated factors among children aged 6 23 months in sierra leone multi level logistic regression analysis
topic Iron-rich food
Complementary feeding
Micro-nutrient deficiency
Children
Africa
Sierra Leone
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16737-x
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