Feeding Practices, Nutritional Status and Diarrhoea Diseases among Children Aged 6 - 59 Months in the Yaounde 6 Subdivision Health Districts: Centre-Cameroon

Background and Aim: Malnutrition and diarrhoea diseases remain a major source of morbidity and mortality in young children aged 6 to 59 months in developing countries. In Cameroon, many strategies are being implemented to protect the mother-child pair through antenatal sensitization. However, these interventions are still limited. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the association between feeding practices, nutritional status and diarrhoea diseases among young children aged under five years in the Yaounde 6 subdivision health districts. Subjects and Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional and analytical study targeting mother-child pair attending consultations, selected by convenience sampling, from May to July 2023 in three major health districts in the Yaounde 6 subdivision. Data were collected on feeding practices. The prevalence of diarrhoea disease and nutritional status was determined. Results: A total of 217 mother-child pairs were included in this study. Very few children (21.75 and 7.55%) consumed animal source foods and fruits respectively. The prevalence of stunting, underweight, and diarrhoea disease was 23.96% (18.28% - 29.64%), 15.66% (10.82% - 20.49%) and 23.04% (17.04% - 28.59%) respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that there was no statistical association between the person who fed the child in the mother’s absence (nanny or neighbors) [odds ratio (95% CI): 0.285 (0.126 - 0.626), p 6 members) [0.836 (0.710 - 0.962), p Entamoeba histolytica (2.7%). Conclusion: Unappropriate complementary feeding practices of mothers were associated with the nutritional status and diarrhoea diseases of children aged under five years. Improving the nutritional and hygiene knowledge of all the people in contact with children could help to reduce childhood diarrhoea and malnutrition outcomes in Yaounde.