Background: Optimal nutrition during lactation is essential for the well-being of the mother and the infant. Studies have shown that access to nutrient-rich foods during lactation is critical as minimal stores of nutrients can have adverse effects. This study aimed to investigate the diversity, composition, and nutrient adequacy of diets of lactating mothers in Southwest Ethiopia.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was carried out in three districts of Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia, in February 2014. A stratified multistage sampling technique was used to select 558 lactating mothers. Data were collected using a pre-tested and structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Minimum dietary diversity for women (MDD-W) was computed from a single 24-h recall. A cut off value of 5 was used to classify the dietary diversity into achieving MDD-W or not. The proximate, mineral and anti-nutritional compositions of 12 commonly consumed foods were analysed using standard methods. Nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) and Mean adequacy ratio (MAR) of these foods were estimated.
Results: The mean (±SD) dietary diversity score (DDS) of the study participants was 3.73±1.03. Meeting MDD-W was positively associated with agricultural production diversity (P = 0.001) and educational level of the women (P = 0.04). Conversely, district of the study (P = 0.003) and place of residence (P = 0.019) were negatively associated with meeting MDD-W. The proximate composition (g/100g) of the sampled foods ranged between 24.8-65.6 for moisture, 7.6-19.8 for protein, 2.1-23.1 for crude fat, 2.0-27 for crude fibre, 1.0-21.2 for total ash, and 0.9-45.8 for total carbohydrate content. The calorific value ranged between 124.5-299.6 Kcal/100g. The mineral contents (mg/100g) ranged between 9.5-52.5 for iron, 2.2-4.2 for zinc, 42.6-318.2 for calcium, and 150.7-379.9 for phosphorus. The content of anti-nutritional factors (mg/100g) ranged between 11.1-178.9 for phytate and 3.7-315.9 for tannin. All the commonly consumed maternal foods were not sufficient to meet the energy, fat and protein requirements, (NAR<1). However, all diets provided adequate iron and most of the cereal-based foods provided adequate carbohydrate and minerals. The overall nutrient adequacy was below the cut-off point for all food types.
Conclusions: The diets of lactating mothers in Southwest Ethiopia lack diversity and nutrient adequacy. A community-based nutrition education program on the importance of diet diversity and nutrient intake during lactation based on a multi-sectoral approach is needed.