SPIR Ethiopia: Barriers to adoption of optimal complementary feeding practices in Ethiopia

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) spearheads the SPIR II learning agenda, including formative studies conducted during the first year of the program. A key focus of the studies was a formative nutrition assessment aimed at understanding the factors contributing to the delayed introduction of complementary foods for infants in rural Ethiopia. This issue is closely linked to persistent levels of child malnutrition. The research sought to explore the financial constraints, availability of nutritious foods, maternal time challenges, and gaps in knowledge regarding appropriate weaning practices. Early findings indicate that the PSNP has not been significantly effective in improving child nutritional outcomes, underscoring the need for targeted interventions in complementary feeding practices.