ABSTRACT

 Adequate complementary feeding practices and achieving age-appropriate gross motor milestones are crucial for the optimal growth and development of infants and young children. Moreover, psychosocial stimulation plays a significant role in enhancing children's cognitive and emotional development. This study focuses on assessing the relationship between complementary feeding practices, gross motor milestone attainment, and psychosocial stimulation in children aged 6-24 months. The purpose of this crosssectional study was to explore the association between complementary feeding practices, gross motor milestone attainment, and psychosocial stimulation in children aged 6-24 months in Aba North Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. Understanding these interconnections can aid in identifying areas for targeted interventions and support to promote healthy child development. Data were collected from 110 mothers or caregivers using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire included sections on sociodemographic characteristics, complementary feeding practices, gross motor milestone achievement, and psychosocial stimulation of the children. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyze the data and determine relationships between the variables. The majority ofthe respondents were mothers (90%) from the Igbo ethnic group (91.8%), with the highest proportion falling within the age group of 26-35 years (51.8%). Married individuals constituted a significant percentage (78.2%) of the respondents. The study revealed suboptimal complementary feeding practices, with a significant proportion of children (95.5%) not receiving diverse and age-appropriate complementary foods. Moreover, a notable percentage of children achieved the expected gross motor milestones for their age while there was an even distribution between children who attained (48.2%) and did not psychosocial stimulation (51.8%). The prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight was found to be 12.7%, 4.5% and 5.5% respectively. Appropriate complementary feeding practice was found to be negatively associated with psychosocial stimulation and positively associated with WHZ score suggesting that children exposed to appropriate complementary feeding practice had less emphasis on psychosocial stimulation and were more likely to have lower prevalence ofstunting. This finding underscores the importance of considering multiple determinants, including psychosocial factors, in designing interventions and policies to improve child nutrition and development. Implementing targeted interventions to improve caregiver knowledge and practices regarding complementary feeding, as well as promoting psychosocial stimulation in the early years, can play a vital role in supporting children's growth and development. Future research and programs should focus on comprehensive strategies that address the interplay between complementary feeding practices, gross motor milestone attainment, and psychosocial stimulation to ensure optimal child development in Aba North Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria