Effectiveness of a Complementary Feeding Promotion Program for Care givers of Infants Using Trained Agriculture Extension Workers in a Rural Area of Ethiopia: A Randomized Control Trial

Abstract

Complementary feeding practices are often inadequate in developing countries resulting in a significant decline in the nutritional status in children between 6 and 24 months of age. In 2011, only 4% of mothers in Ethiopia who were breast feeding gave their children 6 to 23 months of age from four or more food groups daily (CSA 2011). Despite Agriculture Extension Workers (AEWs) involvement in livestock and crops production, they were not involved in improving complementary feeding for infants and young children. This study assessed the effectiveness of using AEWs in addition to existing Health Extension Workers (HEWs), to promote complementary feeding practices and improve infants' nutritional status in Wonchi Woreda, Oromia region of southwestern Ethiopia.