Correlation between the Food Consumption of Children Aged 6 to 59 Months and the Socio-demographic Characteristics of Mothers-guardian and Households: A Comparative Study of Two Areas with different Horticultural Characteristics in Niger

Aim: Poor eating habits have a negative impact on the health of infants and young children.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the dietary consumption patterns of children aged 6 to 59 months associated with the sociodemographic characteristics of mothers, guardians and households in two horticultural zones with different specificities.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted across three municipalities, involving 214 households to characterize the socio-demographic profile and food consumption of children. Data were analyzed using Stata MP 16 and SPSS 25 software.

Résultats: The findings revealed that the consumption of animal-based products was generally low, except in non-horticultural areas (Dosso urban commune), where a significant difference was observed (P = 0.05). Furthermore, 66.8% of children achieved an Acceptable Food Consumption Score (AFCS). Multivariate analysis indicated that children in the Tillabéri horticultural area and the Dosso non-horticultural area swere 5.33 and 4.34 times more likely to have an acceptable food consumption score compared to their counterparts in the Dosso horticultural area (adjusted OR = 5.33; P = 0.004), (adjusted OR = 4.34; P = 0.022). However, a low level of maternal education was found to positively influence children's feeding practices (adjusted OR = 4.61; P = 0.005). Conclusion: While the majority of children have an acceptable food consumption score, there is a need to enhance awareness among mothers to promote better feeding practices.