Abstract
Introduction
Child malnutrition is one of the leading public health problems and is related to poor health and inappropriate complementary feeding practices. This study aimed to determine associations between the appropriate minimum acceptable diet and stunting among children aged 6-23 months in the rural area of Cambodia.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted by Nutrition students in Batch 7 of the School of Public Health (SPH) in Kampong Svay district, Kampong Thom province in August 2020. A total of 55 mothers and their infants aged 6-23 months, were enrolled in the study. Child feeding (CF) practices were collected by interviewing the mothers and repeated 24-hour food recall method, including data on timely introduction of CF, minimum meal frequency, dietary diversity and minimum acceptable diet. Data were analyzed in STATA V15.
Results
The results found that the overall prevalence of underweight was 10.9%, stunting was 9.1%, and wasting was 9.1%. Only 35% of children aged 6 to 23 months were fed with a minimum acceptable diet. Factors associated with stunting were mothers with no education [OR = 6.0, 95% CI (0.44, 81.44)], and infants with non-exclusive breastfeeding until 2 years [OR = 6.8, 95% CI (0.99, 47.03)]. Besides, children who meet the requirements of a minimum diversity diet [OR = 0.44, 95% CI (0.04, 4.28)], a minimum meal frequency [OR = 0.24, 95% CI (0.03, 1.73)], and a minimum acceptable diet [OR = 0.44, 95% CI (0.04, 4.28)] might be able to prevent children stunting.
Conclusion
The malnutrition rates among children aged 6-23 months remain a problem in this region, with 9.1% of children being stunted. In addition, inadequate appropriate feeding and mothers’ lack of education are the main reasons for children being undernourished. Therefore, improving maternal education and providing enough minimum appropriate complementary feeding to children along with other favorable factors, such as, exclusive breastfeeding until two years might be interventions against child stunting in the community.