The objective of this study was to assess seasonal variation in nutritional status and
feeding practices among lactating mothers and their children 6-23 months of age in
two different agro-ecological zones of rural Ethiopia (lowland zone and midland
zone). Food availability and access are strongly affected by seasonality in Ethiopia.
However, there are few published data on the effects of seasonal food fluctuations on
nutritional status and dietary diversity patterns of mothers and children in rural
Ethiopia.
A longitudinal study was conducted among 216 mothers in two agro-ecological
zones of rural Ethiopia during pre and post-harvest seasons. Data were collected on
many parameters including anthropometry, blood levels of haemoglobin and ferritin
and zinc, urinary iodine levels, questionnaire data regarding demographic and
household parameters and health issues, and infant and young child feeding
practices, 24 h food recall to determine dietary diversity scores, and household use of
iodized salt. Chi-square and multivariable regression models were used to identify
independent predictors of nutritional status.
A wide variety of results were generated including the following highlights. It was
found that 95.4% of children were breastfed, of whom 59.7% were initially breastfed
within one hour of birth, 22.2% received pre-lacteal feeds, and 50.9% of children
received complementary feedings by 6 months of age. Iron deficiency was found in
44.4% of children and 19.8% of mothers. Low Zinc status was found in 72.2% of
children and 67.3% of mothers. Of the study subjects, 52.5% of the children and
19.1% of the mothers were anaemic, and 29.6% of children and 10.5% of mothers
had iron deficiency anaemia. Among the mothers with low serum iron status, 81.2%
and 56.2% of their children had low serum zinc and iron, respectively. Similarly,
among the low serum zinc status mothers, 75.2% and 45.3% of their children had
low serum in zinc and iron, respectively. There was a strong correlation between the
micronutrient status of the mothers and the children for ferritin, zinc and
haemoglobin (P <0.001). There was also statistically significant difference between
agro-ecological zones for micronutrient deficiencies among the mothers (p<0.001)
but not for their children. The majority (97.6%) of mothers in the lowland zone were
deficient in at least one micronutrient biomarker (zinc or ferritin or haemoglobin).