Compliance with Use of Micronutrient Powder among Caregivers of Children Aged 6-23 Months in a District of a State in North East Nigeria

Aims: To assess the knowledge and perception about micronutrient powder (MNP) use, compliance with use of the product, and determine factors influencing compliance to continual use of MNP for food fortification among caregivers of children aged 6-23 months in Konduga LGA, Borno State, Nigeria.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Konduga LGA, Borno State Nigeria in August 2018.

Methodology: A total of 218 caregivers of children aged 6-23 months were selected using a multistage sampling technique. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to interview respondents on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge about complementary feeding, perception about MNP use and compliance with use of MNP for food fortification. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and logistic regression, with the level of significance set at 0.05.

Results: Respondents were female with 111 (50.9%) below 30 years of age (mean age: 29.3±8.0). Twenty-four (11%) of the respondents have good knowledge of complementary feeding and 77 (35.3%) have a good perception of the use of MNP. Almost two-thirds [135 (61.9%)] of the respondents used MNP. Factors that influenced respondents’ compliance with use of MNP include; being <30 years of age (P= .04), having a spouse with formal education (P= .003) and is not working (P= .013) and having good knowledge of complementary feeding (P= .01). Among these factors, having a spouse that is not working determined compliance with use of MNP (AOR=3.3, 95% CI= 1.6-7.5).

Conclusion: Although compliance with use of MNP was above average, however, there is need to improve on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) counselling focusing on the importance of MNP particularly among the older caregivers and their spouse.