Researchers looked at 107 studies about how babies under two years old are fed in Ethiopia. They found that most babies aren’t getting the feeding practices doctors recommend. Only about 6 in 10 babies start breastfeeding right away, and only 2 in 10 get the best combination of feeding practices. The study shows that when mothers get prenatal care, deliver at hospitals, and have support from their husbands, babies are more likely to be fed properly. This matters because good feeding practices help babies grow healthy and strong.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How babies under two years old are being fed in Ethiopia and what helps parents feed their babies the right way
  • Who participated: Data from 107 different research studies conducted in Ethiopia involving thousands of families with babies under two years old
  • Key finding: Only about 2 out of every 10 babies in Ethiopia are getting the best feeding practices. About 6 out of 10 start breastfeeding right away, and about 6 out of 10 get other foods at the right time. Babies whose mothers received prenatal care and delivered at hospitals were much more likely to be fed properly.
  • What it means for you: If you’re a parent or work with families in Ethiopia, this research suggests that getting prenatal care, delivering at a health facility, and having family support—especially from fathers—can really help babies get the nutrition they need to grow healthy. This is important because proper feeding prevents serious health problems in young children.

The Research Details

This was a systematic review and meta-analysis, which means researchers searched through many published studies about baby feeding in Ethiopia and combined all their findings together. They looked for studies published in English that tracked how families actually feed their babies. The researchers carefully checked the quality of each study to make sure the information was reliable. They used special computer programs to combine all the numbers from different studies to get an overall picture of what’s happening across Ethiopia.

The researchers searched four major medical databases to find all relevant studies. They looked at studies that compared different groups of people or followed families over time. Before combining the results, they checked whether the different studies agreed with each other or if there were big differences. They also looked for signs that some studies might not have been published because they had negative results, which could change the overall picture.

This approach is important because no single study can tell the whole story about feeding practices across an entire country. By combining 107 studies, researchers get a much clearer and more reliable picture of what’s really happening. This helps health leaders understand the real problem and plan better solutions. The researchers also looked at what factors help or hurt good feeding practices, which helps identify where to focus improvement efforts.

The researchers used a well-respected checklist to judge how good each study was. They checked whether studies had enough people, whether they measured things the same way, and whether they were honest about their limitations. The fact that they included 107 studies means the results are based on a lot of evidence. However, because different studies measured things slightly differently, there was some variation in the results. The researchers tested whether this variation was too large to trust the combined results, and they found it was manageable. They also checked for publication bias, which means they looked for signs that studies with negative results might not have been published.

What the Results Show

The study found that feeding practices in Ethiopia are not meeting international standards. About 64 out of 100 babies start breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, which is good but not ideal. About 59 out of 100 babies are exclusively breastfed (meaning they get only breast milk and no other foods) for the recommended time period. About 61 out of 100 babies start eating other foods at the right age. However, only about 20 out of 100 babies get what doctors call an “optimal” diet—meaning they’re getting the right combination of breastfeeding and other foods at the right times.

The research identified several things that make it more likely babies will be fed properly. When mothers attended prenatal care appointments, their babies were more than three times as likely to start breastfeeding right away. When babies were born at a hospital or health center instead of at home, they were more than twice as likely to start breastfeeding properly. Mothers who had normal vaginal deliveries (rather than complications) were also more likely to breastfeed their babies right away.

For exclusive breastfeeding, the study found that very young babies (0-1 months old) were much more likely to be exclusively breastfed than older babies. Mothers over 35 years old were more likely to exclusively breastfeed. Mothers who lived in cities rather than rural areas, who had jobs outside the home, and who received postnatal care (checkups after birth) were all more likely to exclusively breastfeed. Importantly, when husbands supported their wives’ breastfeeding efforts, mothers were almost three times as likely to exclusively breastfeed.

The study found that counseling about breastfeeding more than doubled the chances that mothers would exclusively breastfeed. When mothers participated in demonstrations about how to prepare complementary foods (foods given alongside breastfeeding), babies were more than twice as likely to get optimal feeding practices. Babies who were 18-23 months old were more likely to be getting optimal feeding practices, possibly because by that age, parents have learned what works best.

This research confirms what other studies have shown: that many babies in low-income countries like Ethiopia aren’t being fed the way health experts recommend. The study shows that Ethiopia’s feeding practices are worse than international goals set by the World Health Organization. The findings also match previous research showing that prenatal care, hospital deliveries, and family support all help improve feeding practices. However, this is the first large summary of all Ethiopian studies on this topic, so it gives a clearer picture than any single study could.

The study combined information from different studies that measured things slightly differently, which could affect the results. Some studies included in the analysis were small or had quality issues, though researchers tried to account for this. The studies were mostly from certain regions of Ethiopia, so the results might not represent all of Ethiopia equally. The research is based on studies published in English, so some important research in other languages might have been missed. Finally, because this is based on studies that observed what families were doing rather than experiments that tested new approaches, we can’t be completely sure that the factors identified actually cause better feeding practices—they might just be connected to them.

The Bottom Line

Health programs in Ethiopia should focus on: (1) Making sure all pregnant women attend prenatal care appointments—this is strongly supported by evidence and helps with multiple feeding practices; (2) Encouraging hospital or health center deliveries instead of home births; (3) Providing breastfeeding counseling and support, especially from trained counselors; (4) Involving fathers and husbands in supporting mothers’ feeding decisions; (5) Teaching mothers how to prepare complementary foods through hands-on demonstrations rather than just lectures; (6) Ensuring mothers get postnatal care checkups after birth. These recommendations have moderate to strong evidence supporting them.

This research is most important for health workers, government health programs, and organizations working to improve child health in Ethiopia. Parents and families should care because it shows that getting prenatal care, delivering at health facilities, and having family support really does help babies get better nutrition. International organizations focused on child health should also pay attention. However, these findings are specifically about Ethiopia, so while they may apply to other similar countries, they shouldn’t be assumed to apply everywhere without local research.

Changes in feeding practices take time. If a mother starts attending prenatal care today, she might improve her feeding practices during her next pregnancy or with her next baby. If health programs start offering breastfeeding counseling and demonstrations, families could start improving their practices within weeks to months. However, to see big changes across an entire country, it typically takes 2-5 years of consistent effort.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track the timing of key feeding milestones: (1) When breastfeeding started after birth (within 1 hour is ideal); (2) When exclusive breastfeeding ended and other foods were introduced (should be around 6 months); (3) Types and frequency of complementary foods given; (4) Prenatal and postnatal care visits attended. Users can set reminders for recommended care visits and feeding transitions.
  • The app could help users: (1) Schedule and track prenatal care appointments; (2) Set reminders for postnatal checkups; (3) Access breastfeeding tips and troubleshooting guides; (4) Share feeding goals with family members, especially partners, to encourage support; (5) Watch short video demonstrations of how to prepare healthy complementary foods; (6) Connect with counselors or peer support groups for breastfeeding help.
  • Create a feeding timeline tracker that shows when each feeding milestone should happen and allows users to log when it actually happened. Include a dashboard showing overall feeding practice quality based on the research (timely breastfeeding start, exclusive breastfeeding duration, timely complementary food introduction, and dietary diversity). Send monthly summaries comparing the user’s practices to recommendations. Allow users to share progress with healthcare providers for feedback.

This research summary is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice. The findings are based on studies from Ethiopia and may not apply to all populations or settings. Parents and caregivers should consult with their healthcare provider or a lactation consultant for personalized feeding guidance for their individual child. If you have concerns about your child’s growth or nutrition, please contact a qualified healthcare professional. This summary represents the current research but medical recommendations may change as new evidence emerges.