Table 2. Eating habits, dietary diversity and food security status of lactating mothers (n = 408) visiting governmental health facilities, Dessie town, Ethiopia, March-April, 2017.

Characteristics		Number	Percent
Daily Meal Frequency
2 times		24	5.9
3 times		195	47.8
4 & above times		189	46.3
Changes in food intake during lactation
Yes		140	34.3
No		268	65.7
Food intake changes
Frequency of meal		36	8.8
Amount of meal		49	12.0
Both frequency & amount of meal		54	13.2
Avoidance of food during lactation
Yes		31	7.6
No		377	92.4
Got nutrition information
Yes		262	64.2
No		146	35.8
Source of nutrition information
Health professionals		204	50.0
Mass media		44	10.8
Both health professionals and mass media		14	3.4
Food groups consumed by lactating mothers in previous 24 hours
Starchy staples, roots and tubers		364	89.2
Dark green leafy vegetables		265	65.0
Other vitamin A rich fruits and vegetables		170	41.7
Other fruits and vegetables		209	51.2
Fats and oils		401	98.3
Meat and fish		146	35.8
Eggs		149	36.5
Legumes, nuts and seeds		309	75.7
Milk and milk products		159	39.0
Mean dietary diversity score		5.3±1.74
Food security status	Food secured	289	70.8
	Food insecured	119	29.2