The meta-analysis estimated the pooled…
The meta-analysis estimated the pooled prevalence of appropriate complementary feeding practices among Ethiopian children aged 6–23 months at 20.61% (95% CI: 16.46, 24.76). Timely initiation of complementary feeding was observed in 78.8% of cases, whereas only 18.4% met the minimum acceptable diet criteria. Factors positively associated with appropriate complementary feeding included maternal secondary education or higher (aOR=3.55, 95% CI: 2.01, 5.08), maternal employment (aOR=3.25, 95% CI: 1.95, 4.54), antenatal care attendance (aOR=4.66, 95% CI: 3.47, 5.89), and postnatal care utilization (aOR=3.10, 95% CI: 2.06, 4.14). Additionally, children aged 18–23 months (aOR=3.63, 95% CI: 2.63, 5.87), higher household income (aOR=4.25, 95% CI: 2.63, 5.87), smaller family size (aOR=3.64, 95% CI: 3.03, 4.25), maternal knowledge (aOR=5.38, 95% CI: 3.87, 6.89), and food-secure households (aOR=3.84, 95% CI: 1.97, 5.00) were significantly associated with increased odds of appropriate complementary feeding practices.