Maternal nutrition practices and its implications for child growth and development

Abstract

Maternal nutrition is crucial for optimal child growth and development, reducing pregnancy complications like low birth weight and premature birth. Adequate nutrition during pregnancy and breastfeeding helps prevent nutrient deficiencies with long-lasting effects. However, poor maternal nutrition can lead to adverse child growth outcomes, such as intrauterine growth restriction and developmental issues. The main objective of this study was to investigate the factors influencing maternal nutrition practices and its implication for child growth and development in the communities of Jimma Town. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2024 among 423 mothers. Face-to-face interviews were conducted by trained data collectors to gather detailed information on socio-demographic characteristics, maternal health, nutrition, and child growth and development. The multivariate analysis was conducted to control the confounding influence using variables that were eligible for multivariable logistic regression analysis and had a p-value of less than 0.25. In the multivariable logistic regression, factors with p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant predictors. This study of 423 mothers with a 100% response rate identified key factors affecting child growth. Education was significant, with adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of 4.02 for primary, 5.44 for secondary, and 2.95 for college education. Casual laborers had a lower AOR of 0.19, while marital status (AOR = 1.14) and income levels between 6,001 and 10,000 (AOR = 2.11) positively impacted outcomes. Important health indicators included no pregnancy support (AOR = 0.27), no antenatal care (AOR = 0.30), and a fetal heartbeat (AOR = 4.02). Nutritional practices such as not consuming calcium-rich foods (AOR = 0.43) and adequate breastfeeding (AOR = 6.10) were linked to better development. Children with a normal BMI (AOR = 2.62) and appropriate birth weight (AOR = 1.16) showed improved growth outcomes, all at a 5% significance level. The analysis reveals that being educated mothers, having husbands employed in NGOs or in private business, being married mothers, having a family monthly income (6001-10,000), having a normal BMI, having a breastfeeding frequency of 6-8 per day, having pregnancy support, increasing the number of meals during pregnancy and lactation, having a balanced diet, having antenatal visits, having tetanus toxoid, having nutritional counseling, and taking different supplements during pregnancy like folic acid, iron, calcium, omega-3, vitamins, and zinc can improve child growth and development. Interventions aimed at improving maternal education, economic support, and nutritional health are essential for enhancing child growth in the community.