Determinants of minimum acceptable diet feeding among children aged 6-23 months in Odisha, India.

Objective: To assess the level, pattern and determinants of minimum acceptable diet (MAD) feeding in Odisha, India.

Design: Utilising cross-sectional data, the MAD was estimated through a dietary assessment method wherein the child's mother was asked to recall all the food intake of the youngest child the previous day and night of the surveyed date.

Setting: National Family Health Survey 2015-2016.

Participants: Children aged 6-23 months, living with mother and for whom complete information on MAD was available (n 3073).

Results: Only 8·4 % of the children aged 6-23 months were fed MAD, and the MAD feeding varies considerably by socio-demographic characteristics. Children aged 12-17 months had two times (OR: 2·51, 95 % CI (1·48, 4·26)) and those aged 18-23 months had three times (OR: 3·77, 95 % CI (2·25, 6·30)) higher odds of having a MAD than their counterparts aged 6-8 months. Children whose mother was exposed to any mass media had a higher chance of MAD feeding (OR: 1·46, 95 % CI (1·01, 2·11)).

Conclusions: The children of higher age, second or higher-order births, with mother exposed to mass media are significantly more likely to be fed with a MAD. At the same time, children from scheduled caste (SC) households have a lower probability of MAD feeding. The lower MAD feeding among the SC households suggests strengthening the ongoing programmes with a higher emphasis on the inclusion of this disadvantaged and marginalised group. Findings from the current study would assist policymakers, and public health managers improve MAD feeding practices in Odisha, India, in a targeted manner.