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Background <p>Fathers play a crucial but often overlooked role in promoting optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices. Mothers who are overburdened with household workloads face challenges in maintaining optimal child-feeding practices. The majority of fathers still perceive routine child-feeding practices as the mother’s responsibility, apart from providing financial and resource support. To improve future interventions, it is essential to assess fathers’ knowledge of child-feeding practices.</p> Objective <p>To assess fathers’ involvement in child feeding and associated factors among children aged 6 to 23 months in Ameya woreda, Ethiopia, 2024/2025.</p> Methods <p>A community-based mixed-methods study was conducted involving 622 fathers with children aged 6–23 months, and fifteen in-depth interviews were carried out with fathers. The survey data were entered into EpiData software, then exported to SPSS version 26, and analyzed using bivariable and multivariable logistic regression. Statistical significance variables were set at <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05, and model goodness of fit was checked with the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. Qualitative data were transcribed, coded, categorized, and narrated to support the study’s findings.</p> Results <p>In this study, 622 participants completed the interview, yielding a 100% response rate. Fathers’ involvement in child feeding was 44.4% (95% CI 38.2–50.8). Factors significantly associated with fathers’ involvement in child feeding included urban residence (AOR = 3.56 (95% CI 1.87–6.8), <i>P</i> &lt; 0.01)), college and above educational level (AOR = 3.88 (95% CI 1.75–8.62), <i>P</i> &lt; 0.01)), and being biological fathers (AOR = 3.47(95% CI 1.49–8.08, <i>P</i> &lt; 0.01)), Workplace proximity (AOR = 5.09(95% CI2.37–10.9), <i>P</i> &lt; 0.02)), good knowledge (AOR = 3.90 (95%CI 2.26–6.73), <i>P</i> &lt; 0.01)), positive attitude (AOR = 2.4(95% CI 1.55–3.66), <i>P</i> &lt; 0.04)). Individual-level enablers, interpersonal and household enablers, community and sociocultural enablers, and health system and structural factors were enablers of fathers’ involvement in feeding children aged 6 to 23 months.</p> Conclusion <p>Father Involvement in child feeding was found to be low in Ameya Woreda. Factors associated with involvement included urban residence, college and above educational level, being a biological fathers, workplace proximity, good knowledge, and a positive attitude. It is recommended that health information dissemination on father involvement in child feeding be strengthened. In Ameya Woreda, health education should emphasize fathers’ roles, and community efforts should foster shared caregiving.</p>

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Fathers’ involvement in child feeding and associated factors among children aged 6–23 months in Ameya Woreda Ethiopia a mixed-methods study

  • 期刊论文

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月21日

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  • Bacha Merga Chuko,
  • Derara Kebata,
  • Ararso Hordofa,
  • Nebiyu Taye,
  • Gada Edea,
  • Teka Feyera,
  • Tamiru Tesfaye,
  • Bizuneh Wakuma

摘要

Background

Fathers play a crucial but often overlooked role in promoting optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices. Mothers who are overburdened with household workloads face challenges in maintaining optimal child-feeding practices. The majority of fathers still perceive routine child-feeding practices as the mother’s responsibility, apart from providing financial and resource support. To improve future interventions, it is essential to assess fathers’ knowledge of child-feeding practices.

Objective

To assess fathers’ involvement in child feeding and associated factors among children aged 6 to 23 months in Ameya woreda, Ethiopia, 2024/2025.

Methods

A community-based mixed-methods study was conducted involving 622 fathers with children aged 6–23 months, and fifteen in-depth interviews were carried out with fathers. The survey data were entered into EpiData software, then exported to SPSS version 26, and analyzed using bivariable and multivariable logistic regression. Statistical significance variables were set at p < 0.05, and model goodness of fit was checked with the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. Qualitative data were transcribed, coded, categorized, and narrated to support the study’s findings.

Results

In this study, 622 participants completed the interview, yielding a 100% response rate. Fathers’ involvement in child feeding was 44.4% (95% CI 38.2–50.8). Factors significantly associated with fathers’ involvement in child feeding included urban residence (AOR = 3.56 (95% CI 1.87–6.8), P < 0.01)), college and above educational level (AOR = 3.88 (95% CI 1.75–8.62), P < 0.01)), and being biological fathers (AOR = 3.47(95% CI 1.49–8.08, P < 0.01)), Workplace proximity (AOR = 5.09(95% CI2.37–10.9), P < 0.02)), good knowledge (AOR = 3.90 (95%CI 2.26–6.73), P < 0.01)), positive attitude (AOR = 2.4(95% CI 1.55–3.66), P < 0.04)). Individual-level enablers, interpersonal and household enablers, community and sociocultural enablers, and health system and structural factors were enablers of fathers’ involvement in feeding children aged 6 to 23 months.

Conclusion

Father Involvement in child feeding was found to be low in Ameya Woreda. Factors associated with involvement included urban residence, college and above educational level, being a biological fathers, workplace proximity, good knowledge, and a positive attitude. It is recommended that health information dissemination on father involvement in child feeding be strengthened. In Ameya Woreda, health education should emphasize fathers’ roles, and community efforts should foster shared caregiving.