Untimely Initiation of Whole Cow Milk, Stunting, and Related Factors in South Gondar, Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction

Despite being an excellent source of essential nutrients, whole cow’s milk poses risks for young children. This is mainly due to its association with adverse effects, including growth inhibition, delayed brain and motor development, and increased morbidity and mortality. The current study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of untimely introduction of whole cow milk, stunting and related factors among children below the age of 5 years.

Methods

A community-centered survey was implemented on 806 mother–child matches. Expressive statistics such as frequency, magnitude, mean and standard deviation were computed. Multivariable logistic regression was done to discover independent determinants of the dependent variables. A p-value of <0.05 was used to affirm significant association.

Results

From the survey participant children 311 (39.2%) of them were stunted. About 453 (57.1%) of children were fed whole cow milk earlier than the age of one year. Mothers who are able to read and write were 49% less likely to initiate cow milk earlier than the age of one year with AOR = 0.51, 95% CI 0.33–0.78. Not attending the growth monitoring and promotion service is a risk for untimely introduction of whole cow milk (AOR = 3.47, 95% CI 2.43–4.94). Children who did not start consuming whole cow milk earlier than the age of one year were 54% less likely to be stunted than those who started consuming whole cow milk before the age of one year (AOR = 0.46, 95% CI 0.33–0.65).

Conclusion

More than half of the study participant children started consuming whole cow milk before the age of one year. Children who did not start consuming whole cow milk early were less likely to be stunted.

Keywords:

• untimely initiation
• whole cow milk
• stunting
• Ethiopia

Abbreviations

AOR, Adjusted Odds Ratio; CI, Confidence Interval; COR, Crude Odds Ratio; CSA, Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia; H/A, Height for Age; MDGs, Millennium Development Goals; NCHS, National Center for Health Statistics; SD, Standard Deviation; SDGs, Sustainable Development Goals; SPSS, Statistical Package for Social Science; WHO, World Health Organization.

Data Sharing Statement

The corresponding author can provide the datasets utilized or analyzed during the present study upon reasonable request.

Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was secured from the Institutional Research Ethics Review Board at Debre Tabor University, bearing the reference number (CHS/4231/2023). Formal letters were sent to all relevant authorities in the Zone, district, and kebeles, requesting their cooperation in facilitating the study. Prior to data collection, interviewers elucidated the study’s objectives, potential benefits, and risks of the study to the study participants, to ensure informed written consent. All the respondents of this study were above the age of 18. Respondents were informed of their absolute right to decline participation at any point without facing any consequences. Furthermore, participants were assured of confidentiality, emphasizing that the information provided would solely be used for the study’s purposes. Any data collected did not include their names, their child’s names, or any other identifying information linking back to them.

Acknowledgment

The authors wish to express their gratitude to the South Gondar Health Office, as well as to the data collectors and respondents involved in this study.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest in this work.