The aim of this study is to analyze complementary feeding practices, to assess the extent to which minimum dietary diversity (MDD) recommendations are being met in the population studied and to study factors that influence the achievement of MDD.

We pooled individual level data form the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and Multi Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). We apply methods from poverty measurement to identify individual gaps towards achieving minimum dietary diversity (MDD). We further identify food groups that separate children who achieve MDD from those who do not.

West and Central Africa.

62,257 children aged 6 and 23 months.

82.0 percent of children do not achieve and on average are lacking 2.5 out of five required food groups. For 19.0 percent of children the gap to MDD is one food group and for 23.7 percent of children the gap is two food groups. Consumption of eggs, other fruits and vegetables as well as legumes and nuts, is particularly low among children who are not achieving MDD. More than 90 percent of children who do not achieve MDD do not consume these food groups compared to around half of children who achieve MDD.

Overall MDD is low, but there is large potential for improving MDD achievement if food consumption can be increased by one or two food groups. Available, affordable and culturally accepted food groups are identified that could be prioritized in interventions to close this gap.