Assessment of Complementary Food Quality, Maternal Feeding Practices, and Nutritional Status of Children Aged 0–24 Months in Ilaro, Ogun State

International audience Appropriate complementary feeding is essential for optimal growth and development during infancy, yet in many developing countries complementary foods are often nutritionally inadequate, contributing to childhood undernutrition. This study assessed the nutritional quality of complementary foods, maternal feeding practices, and the nutritional status of children aged 0–24 months in Ilaro, Ogun State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional mixed-methods design was adopted. Four hundred caregivers of infants aged 6–23 months were recruited using a structured questionnaire to obtain information on socio-demographic characteristics and feeding practices. Anthropometric measurements were taken to determine the nutritional status of the infants, while selected complementary food samples were analyzed for proximate composition to determine their macronutrient content. In addition, a structured interviewer guide was used to explore caregivers’ perceptions of complementary feeding practices. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0, while thematic analysis was performed on the qualitative data. The results showed that 57.0% of the infants were aged 13–23 months and 43.0% were aged 6–12 months. Most infants had normal birth weight (47.3%), and the majority were delivered through spontaneous vaginal delivery (91.0%). Exclusive breastfeeding for six months was practiced by 59.5% of mothers, and commonly provided 3–4 times daily, with pap/ogi being the most frequently consumed food. However, the inclusion of protein-rich foods, fruits, and food enrichment was inconsistent, and food cost influenced feeding choices for many caregivers. Proximate analysis revealed variations in nutrient composition across food samples. Although some samples provided moderate nutrient contributions, many did not meet recommended dietary requirements. The findings highlight the need to improve the nutrient density of complementary foods and strengthen caregiver nutrition education to reduce infant malnutrition.