Nutritional rickets and its associated factors among under-five children in Assela referral and teaching hospital, Ethiopia: a hospital based cross-sectional study design

Table 2 Child feeding practices among mothers/caregivers of under-five children who visited in Assela teaching and referral hospital, 2022

Variables	Categories	Frequency	Percentage
Frequency of breastfeeding (n = 327)	Per need	52	12.3
	Less than 8 times	64	15.1
	8–12 times	128	30.2
	12 and above times	83	19.6
Duration of feeding (n = 307)	Never	25	5.9
	6 months	37	8.7
	1 year	94	22.2
	2 and above	151	35.6
First food given (n = 392)	Breast milk	251	55.2
	Water	86	20.3
	Other food^*	55	13.0
Times of initiation for complementary (n = 316)	Before 6 months	123	29
	At 6 months	119	28.1
	After 6 months	74	17.5
Special foods recommended for children in the community	Yes^**	126	29.7
Special foods recommended for children in the community	No	298	70.3
Special foods restricted for children in the community	Yes^***	15	3.5
Special foods restricted for children in the community	No	409	96.5

*Butter, formula milk, honey, porridge, and fruits (juice); ** Milk, porridge and potato; *** uncooked/raw foods, meat, fish and egg

ISSN: 1471-2431