Socio-Cultural Barriers Affecting Women’s Decision on Child Feeding in Rural South Ethiopia: Perspectives of Caregivers and Key Figures

Childhood malnutrition remains a major public health concern in developing countries, including Ethiopia. This is mainly due to inappropriate child-feeding practices. One promising solution is to enhance women’s decision-making autonomy. This study was designed to explore comprehensive understanding of socio-cultural barriers that hinder women’s involvement in making decisions within households regarding child-feeding practices in the rural regions of south Ethiopia, from the perspectives of caregivers and key figures. We conducted six focus group discussions and 12 individual interviews with a total of 63 participants in three rural communities in south Ethiopia. Additionally, 20 key informant interviews were completed with healthcare providers. We used thematic content analysis to analyze the data. Socio-economic barriers, including limited income and job opportunities, a lack of property ownership, and low levels of women’s education, greatly influenced women’s decision-making about child feeding. Cultural practices such as having large families, practicing polygamy, and having significant age differences between spouses, along with limited freedom of partner choice and gender inequalities, were also found to be barriers affecting women’s involvement in making household decisions. In the local setting of rural southern Ethiopia, interventions should include culturally sensitive workshops in local languages that focus on the importance of nutrition and child feeding practices for both mothers and fathers, with collaboration from community leaders to ensure trust and relevance. Efforts to empower women economically through income-generating activities like small-scale farming or livestock rearing can strengthen their role in household decision-making, while microfinance opportunities further support their influence. Engaging husbands in child nutrition and care through group discussions and counseling fosters shared responsibility in family health. Tailored nutritional support, aligned with local food availability and traditional diets, can be promoted to ensure sustainability. Additionally, partnering with health workers and community organizations can make maternal health services and nutritional counseling more accessible, reinforcing overall family well-being.