{
  "abstract": "Introduction Inadequate minimum meal frequency (MMF) contributes to malnutrition among infants and young children, increasing the risk of stunting, micronutrient deficiencies, impaired cognitive development and higher morbidity and mortality. In Rwanda, limited data exist on the prevalence and determinants of meeting MMF among children aged 6–23 months. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of meeting MMF in this population.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data from the 2019–2020 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey, comprising 1203 children aged 6–23 months. The main outcome was meeting MMF, defined according to WHO guidelines as receiving the minimum recommended number of meals per day, based on age and breastfeeding status. Bivariate analysis using χ² tests and binary logistic regression was conducted to determine the determinants of meeting MMF. Variables with a p<0.05 were included in a multivariable logistic regression model.Results The prevalence of meeting MMF was 46.1%. Four factors were independently associated with meeting MMF. Children from the poorest households had 70% lower odds of meeting MMF (adjusted OR (AOR)=0.298, 95% CI 0.124 to 0.717). Children whose mothers earned less than their husbands had 53% lower odds of meeting MMF (AOR=0.466, 95% CI 0.235 to 0.924). Children who experienced recent diarrhoeal illness had 57% lower odds of meeting MMF (AOR=0.434, 95% CI 0.267 to 0.706). Additionally, lack of postnatal care visits was associated with 45% lower odds of meeting MMF (AOR=0.551, 95% CI 0.328 to 0.926, p=0.024).Conclusions The study revealed that less than half (46.1%) of the Rwandan children aged 6–23 months met the MMF requirement. Key factors negatively associated included household poverty, maternal income inequality, recent diarrhoeal diseases and lack of postnatal care visits. These findings underscore the need for integrated socioeconomic and healthcare interventions.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Centre for Impact, Innovation and Capacity Building for Health Information Systems and Nutrition (CIIC-HIN), Kigali, Rwanda",
        "University of Rwanda School of Public Health, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Absolomon Gashaija"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Health Sciences, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Marie Josée Mwiseneza"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Health Sciences, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Candide Girimpundu Mugeni"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Health Sciences, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Raphael Ndahimana"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Health Sciences, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Mediatrice Niyonsaba"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Félicien Irafasha"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Health Sciences, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Charles Ndayisaba"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Health Sciences, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Adalbert Ndayisenga"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Health Sciences, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Roger Muragire"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Health Sciences, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Binayisa Gad"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Health Sciences, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda",
        "Rwanda Biomedical Center, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Edith Uwamahoro"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Health Sciences, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Godfrey Ngabonziza"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Health Sciences, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Japhet Ishimwe"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Health Sciences, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Munyaneza Egide"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Health Sciences, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Claude Kalisa"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Health Sciences, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Melissa Uwase"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Health Sciences, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "John Mugisha"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Health Sciences, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Joseph Imanishimwe"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Health Sciences, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Hawa Niragire"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Medicine and Community Departement, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Samuel Muhirwa"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Rwanda Biomedical Center, Division of Research, Innovation, and Data science, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Eric Remera"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Health Sciences, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Michael Habtu"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Health Sciences, Centre for Impact, Innovation and Capacity Building for Health Information Systems and Nutrition (CIIC-HIN), Kigali, Rwanda",
        "School of Public Health, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda"
      ],
      "name": "Condo Jeanine"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Prevalence and determinants of meeting minimum meal frequency among children aged 6–23 months in Rwanda: a cross-sectional study",
  "uid": "8a1560f3-5b06-540b-8c2e-4101527f274d"
}