Determinant factors of weight status among under two years children received the complementary feeding program

ABSTRACT

Objective: The study explored determinant factors of weight status among children aged 12–24 months who received complementary feeding program of the Ministry of Health in Luwu Timur, South Sulawesi Province. Methods: The study used case–control design. It involved 82 children from poor families who received complementary feeding program. Forty-one children as a case group with constant body weight and forty-one children as a control group with increasing body weight within the last two months selected with a purposive sampling technique. Results: Exclusive breastfeeding (OR = 3.485; 95% CI = 1.380–8.798), the duration of complementary feeding consumption (OR = 0.299; 95% CI = 0.095–0.939), history of diarrhea (OR = 3.071; 95% CI = 1.174–8.028) and milk consumption pattern (OR = 0.233; 95% CI = 0.069–0.791) were significant determinant of body weight status. Exclusive breastfeeding was the most dominant variable for body weight status (B = 6.152). Conclusions: Exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months is crucial to support complementary feeding programs in increasing the body weight status of children aged 12–24 months. (AU)