Fathers involvement in child feeding and its associated factors among fathers having children aged 6 to 24 months in Antsokia Gemza Woreda, Ethiopia: Cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Father Involvement is exercising positive influences on child feeding. Mothers are usually the primary caregivers for young children. The role of fathers in the proper child feeding of young children has not been a frequent topic of study. Past research has found low rates and little is known about fathers’ involvement in child feeding for children 6–23 months in Ethiopia. The aim of this study is to assess fathers’ involvement in child feeding children aged 6–24 Months. OBJECTIVES: To assess fathers’ involvement in child feeding and associated factors among fathers having children aged 6 to 24 months. METHODOLOGY: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from Jan 23/2022 to April 07/2022. A systematic random sampling technique was applied to select study participants. A total of 408 respondents participated in the study. Data was entered into EPI data version 3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression was used for analysis. RESULT: Father’s involvement in child feeding was 43.1%. Factors that were significantly associated with good fathers involvement in child feeding include urban residence(AOR = 3.878, 95% CI = (1.408–10.678), male sex of the youngest child(AOR = 3.681, 95% CI = (1.678–8.075)), first birth order of the youngest child(AOR = 3.970, 95% CI = (1.212–13.005)), Better(secondary and higher) educational status (AOR = 4.945,95% CI = (1.043–23.454)) and AOR = 5.151, 95% CI = (1.122–23.651)), having ever heard information(AOR = 8.593, 95% CI = (3.044–24.261)), good knowledge (AOR = 3.843,95% CI = (1.318–11.210)), positive attitude (AOR = 8.565, 95% CI = (3.521–20.837)) and good culture (AOR = 10.582,95% CI = (2.818–39.734)). CONCLUSIONS: Father involvement in child feeding was poor in Antsokia Gemza Woreda. Urban residences, male sex of the youngest child, first birth order of the youngest child, better (secondary and higher) educational status, having ever heard information, good knowledge, positive attitude, and good culture were significantly associated with fathers’ involvement in child feeding. Health information dissemination on father involvement in child feeding should be strengthened.