Consumption of vitamin A-rich foods among lactating mothers in Girawa district, Eastern Ethiopia.

Background: Inadequate consumption of vitamin A during lactation significantly increases the risk of vitamin A deficiency disorders. However, there is scarce evidence on the consumption status of vitamin A-rich foods among lactating mothers in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude of inadequate consumption of vitamin A-rich foods and associated factors among lactating mothers visiting public health facilities for child immunization and postnatal care in Girawa District, Eastern Ethiopia.

Method: A facility-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 418 lactating mothers who visited public health facilities for child immunization and postnatal care in the Girawa district from January 20 to February 20, 2023. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was utilized to collect the data. The data were entered into EpiData version 4.6 and exported to STATA version 17 for analysis. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the factors associated with inadequate consumption of vitamin A-rich foods.

Results: The magnitude of inadequate consumption of vitamin A-rich foods was 88.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 85-92). A family size ≥ 4 (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.73, 95% CI = 1.18-6.33), low dietary diversity (AOR = 3.44, 95% CI = 1.36-8.70), household food insecurity (AOR = 3.66, 95% CI = 1.43-9.38) and having < 4 antenatal care (ANC) visits (AOR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.10-7.06) were significantly associated with inadequate consumption of vitamin A-rich foods.

Conclusion: Nearly nine in ten mothers had inadequate intake of vitamin A-rich foods. High family size, low dietary diversity, household food insecurity and fewer ANC follow-up visits were the factors significantly associated with inadequate consumption of vitamin A-rich foods. Therefore, public health measures should focus on family planning, ANC, food security and nutritional counseling/education to improve the consumption of vitamin A-rich foods by lactating mothers.