Optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices during the first two years of life (1000 days from conception to the second year postpartum) are associated with a reduced risk of adverse health and developmental outcomes in children. Optimally breastfed children have less risk of mortality and morbidity from infectious diseases such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, otitis media and measles. Appropriate complementary feeding of children aged 6–23 months also decreases the risk of childhood malnutrition such as stunting, wasting, underweight and micronutrient deficiency. However, in Ethiopia, the prevalence of optimal IYCF practices (including early initiation of breastfeeding [EIBF], exclusive breastfeeding [EBF], the introduction of complementary foods, minimum dietary diversity [MDD] and minimum acceptable diet [MAD]) are well below the national and global nutritional targets. In connection to this and the ongoing natural and man-made disasters (e.g., internal conflicts and internal displacements), more than five million children are stunted in Ethiopia, and diarrhoea and pneumonia together accounted for more than one-third of under-five deaths. Despite many subnational studies that have been conducted in Ethiopia, there are several gaps in the knowledge base of IYCF practices, including their health outcomes of childhood infections and malnutrition among children under two years of age. The present thesis used a series of five studies to investigate: i) the trends and determinants of EIBF and EBF in Ethiopia from 2000 to 2016; ii) the trends and associated factors of complementary feeding practices in Ethiopia from 2005 to 2016; iii) associations between IYCF practices, and ARI and diarrhoea in Ethiopia; iv) the geospatial variations and determinants of childhood stunting in Ethiopia, and v) a systematic review of child health interventions to improve IYCF practices in Ethiopia. Findings from the current thesis suggest the need for IYCF policy and strategy in Ethiopia. The IYCF policy and strategy describes the Government of Ethiopia's position on IYCF and clarifies the main strategies that need to be used and interventions to be implemented to meet the national IYCF policy objectives. The policy and strategy also provide direction on how to conduct advocacy and resource mobilisation, coordinate activities across stakeholders, and guide the monitoring and evaluation for protecting, supporting and promoting IYCF practices in Ethiopia
