Inadequate dietary diversity practices and associated factors among postpartum mothers in Gambella town, Southwest Ethiopia

The shortage of diversified diets in lactating postpartum mothers is a severe problem in developing countries. The promotion of diverse diets is important to improving micronutrient nourishment and adequate energy intake for lactating mothers. To date, there is limited evidence regarding inadequate dietary diversity practices among lactating postpartum mothers in Gambella region. The study is aimed to determine inadequate dietary diversity practice and associated factors among lactating postpartum mothers in Gambella city, southwest Ethiopia. Mixed methods were employed on 407 randomly selected lactating postpartum mothers and 15 purposively selected key informants from February 28 to March 24, 2021. A pre-tested questionnaire and interview guide were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21 software. Binary logistic regression models were used to determine the associated factors of dietary diversity. Qualitative data were analyzed manually through a thematic approach. The prevalence of inadequate dietary diversity practice was 60.2%. Having no education (AOR = 3.74, 95% CI: 1.18, 11.88), employed women(AOR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.75), meal frequency < 3 meals (AOR = 2.92, 95% CI: 1.04, 8.71), time taken to market > 30 min (AOR = 4.20, 95% CI: 2.01, 8.76), not received nutrition education (AOR = 2.0, 95% CI:1.09, 3.68), having home gardening (AOR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.57) and having big animals (AOR = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.29) were significant factors of inadequate dietary diversity practice. Diet habits, food taboos, low social status of women in ownership of household assets, low family support, order of feeding, child preference for resource distribution in a polygamous family, and health care provider’s advice were the main mentioned reasons for inadequate dietary diversity practices. The prevalence of inadequate dietary diversity practices were high compared to previous studies. Having no education, employed women, meal frequency < 3 meals, time taken to market > 30 min, not receiving nutrition education, having a home garden, and having big animals were significant factors of inadequate dietary diversity practice. Nutrition intervention focused on nutrition education to increase meal frequency should be provided for lactating postpartum mothers to improve inadequate dietary diversity practices.