AUTHOR=Zeleke Agerie Mengistie , Tassew Worku Chekol , Ayale Ferede Yeshiwas , Andargie Tadele Maru 

TITLE=Hygienic practices and factors of complementary food preparation among mothers of children aged 6–24 months in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Food Science and Technology

VOLUME=Volume 4 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/food-science-and-technology/articles/10.3389/frfst.2024.1240979

DOI=10.3389/frfst.2024.1240979

ISSN=2674-1121

ABSTRACT=Background: A child's transition to complementary food feeding is an important one, and it should be prepared, stored, and given in a hygienic way while using clean hands, dishes, and utensils to prevent infections. However, there aren't any comprehensive review statistics available at the national level. Hence, the aim of this study is to determine the hygienic practices of complementary food preparation and its factors among Ethiopian women with children between the ages of 6 and 24 months. Methods: On the nationwide prevalence of hygiene practices during the preparation of complementary foods and their determinants among mothers of children aged 6 to 24 months in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched in PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, African Journal Online (AJOL), Google Scholar, and the websites to identify studies that were published until March 2023. We performed this review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). A random-effects meta-analysis was done in Stats Direct statistical software and Open Meta [Analyst] to estimate the prevalence of hygiene practices and was reported in a forest plot. Simple charts and tables were used to summarize the evidence on complementary food preparation and determinates. Results: Nine studies involving 4403 mothers were included in this Ethiopian study. The overall prevalence of good hygienic practice during complementary food preparation among mothers who have children aged 6-24 months was 46.53%(95% CI: 28.13, 64.94), p< 0.0001. Having a separate kitchen (AOR=6.78; 95%CI: 1.04-44.20), having a three-bowl washing facility in their houses (AOR=10.61;95%CI: 7.31, 15.41), mothers access to media (AOR=4.81; 95%CI: 1.23, 18.82), and urban residence(AOR=4.78;95%CI: 2.73, 8.38)were predictors of good hygienic practice during complementary food preparation. Regarding the prevalence of hygienic procedures among mothers of children aged 6 to 24 months nationwide when preparing complementary foods, there is a significant lack of hygienic behavior among Ethiopian mothers. Hence, Ethiopian ministries of health focus on designing complementary food guidelines for the prenatal healthcare system. Furthermore, health extension workers are also better advised to maintain food hygiene during prenatal care visits, which is recommended to improve good hygiene practices during complementary food preparation in Ethiopia.