CHILDHOOD FEEDING PRACTICE IN NORTH ETHIOPIA

Feeding practices among 1464 under fives were surveyed in the Gondar Z uria district of northern Ethiopia from July 1993 to May 1993, 99.8% o f the children in the study area were breast fed initially, 5% discont inued before six months of age and 15% before the end of their first y ear of life, The mean duration of breast feeding was 21.97+/-10.15 mon ths, Supplementary diet was initiated between 4-6 months in 42.4% of t he children while in 16% it was started beyond the first year of life. The mean age of starting supplementary feeding was 9.9+/-6.5 months. The most frequently used supplementary diet was the staple diet which has a low nutritious value, The study revealed that initiation of brea st feeding is not a problem in Ethiopia and the major areas of concern are the early termination of breast feeding, the delay in initiation of supplementary diet and the lour quality of supplementary diet, Prop er and sustained education of parents on feeding infants and children needs continuing emphasis.