Minimum acceptable diet and stunting among children aged 6-23 months in Dalit and Non-Dalit and associated factors: A cross-sectional comparative study of Dhanusha district, Nepal

Abstract Background The complementary feeding practices contributes for development and survival of infant and young child, it reduces the risk of under-nutrition. The aim of the study assessed the status and identify factors associated with minimum acceptable diet and stunting among children aged 6-23 months in Dalit and Non-Dalit.Methods The study method adopted cross-sectional comparative and conducted among mothers with their children aged 6-23 months children of Dhanusha district. Altogether 599 respondents were taken of which 299 were from Dalit and 300 from Non-Dalit and used multistage simple random sampling. Data collection techniques applied for interview and anthropometry measurement and structure questionnaire was practiced as a tool. Descriptive and inferential analyses were carried out by using Statistical Package for the Social Science.Results The prevalence of minimum acceptable diet (MAD) and stunting were 43.8% and 49.9% among Dalit while 44.3%, and 39% among Non-Dalit. The MAD were significantly associated with the age of child (AOR=0.25, 95 CI: 0.11-0.54), child illness in the past two weeks (AOR=4.31, 95% CI: 1.56-11.88) and knowledge on child feeding (AOR=0.31, 95% CI: 0.16-0.61) among Dalit while age of child (AOR=0.37, 95 CI: 0.21-0.64), child illness in the past two weeks (AOR=4.80, 95% CI: 2.23-10.32,knowledge on child feeding (AOR=0.26, 95% CI: 0.16-0.42) and birth interval (AOR=1.92, 95% CI: 1.56-3.19) among Non-Dalit. Stunting was significantly associated with family types (AOR=1.93, 95% CI: 1.11-3.34) among Dalit while Ante Natal Care (ANC) visit (AOR=3.20, 95% CI: 1.15-8.90), media exposure (AOR=3.10, 95% CI: 1.11-8.64 and age of child (AOR=0.24, 95% CI: 0.10-0.57) in Non-Dalit.Conclusion The proportion of minimum acceptable diet practices got similar in both groups. Being key associated factors of MAD practices, age of child, child illness and knowledge on child feeding existed in Dalit and Non-Dalit, while birth interval also among Non-Dalit. Similarly, family type provided an important factor of stunting in Dalit while age of child, ANC visit and media exposure among Non-Dalit. To improve the nutritional status among children, community based maternal nutrition education, access and utilization of health services should be recommended.