Int Breastfeed J. 2012 Nov 27;7(1):17. doi: 10.1186/1746-4358-7-17.

Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding practices among mothers in Goba district, south east Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

International breastfeeding journal

Tesfaye Setegn, Tefera Belachew, Mulusew Gerbaba, Kebede Deribe, Amare Deribew, Sibhatu Biadgilign

PMID: 23186223 PMCID: PMC3560275 DOI: 10.1186/1746-4358-7-17

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as feeding infants only breast milk, be it directly from breast or expressed, with no addition of any liquid or solids apart from drops or syrups consisting of vitamins, mineral supplements or medicine, and nothing else. Several studies have shown that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months plays a great role in preventing morbidity and mortality. However, in Ethiopia a large portion of infants are not exclusively breastfed according to the infant feeding recommendations. Understanding the factors that influence exclusive breastfeeding is crucial to promoting the practice. This study was carried out to identify factors predicting exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in Bale Goba district, south east Ethiopia.

METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to February 2010 involving both quantitative and qualitative data. A total of 608 mothers were selected randomly. A convenience sampling technique was used to generate the qualitative data. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic frameworks. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of exclusive breastfeeding after controlling for background variables.

RESULTS: The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in the last 24 hours preceding the survey was 71.3%. The median duration of exclusive breastfeeding was three months and mean frequency of breastfeeding was six times per day. Being unemployed [AOR: 10.4 (95% CI: 1.51, 71.50)] and age of infants of less than two months [AOR: 5.6 (95% CI: 2.28, 13.60)] were independently associated with exclusive breastfeeding.

CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of infants are not exclusively breastfed during the first 6 months, despite what is recommended in the national and global infant and young child feeding (IYCF) guidelines. Employed mothers were less likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding, implying the need for promoting workplace breastfeeding practices and creating an enabling environment for exclusive breastfeeding. Extensions of maternity leave up to the first six month of child's age to achieve optimal level of exclusive breastfeeding practices should also be looked into as an alternative solution.

References

1. Int J Nurs Pract. 2009 Feb;15(1):32-40 - PubMed
2. Pediatrics. 2003 Jul;112(1 Pt 1):108-15 - PubMed
3. Int Breastfeed J. 2006 Oct 12;1:18 - PubMed
4. BMC Pediatr. 2007 Mar 01;7:10 - PubMed
5. Public Health Nutr. 2001 Apr;4(2):147-54 - PubMed
6. J Trop Pediatr. 2004 Dec;50(6):348-53 - PubMed
7. J Health Popul Nutr. 2007 Jun;25(2):195-204 - PubMed
8. Singapore Med J. 2009 Feb;50(2):181-4 - PubMed
9. Food Nutr Bull. 2008 Sep;29(3):159-62 - PubMed
10. Public Health Nutr. 2006 May;9(3):313-9 - PubMed
11. J Biosoc Sci. 1993 Jan;25(1):127-38 - PubMed
12. J Paediatr Child Health. 2009 Apr;45(4):174-80 - PubMed
13. Int J Epidemiol. 2000 Dec;29(6):1041-6 - PubMed
14. Int Breastfeed J. 2008 Nov 05;3:26 - PubMed
15. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 1997 Mar;1(3):200-7 - PubMed
16. Int Breastfeed J. 2011 Feb 02;6(1):2 - PubMed
17. Singapore Med J. 2008 Dec;49(12):1002-6 - PubMed
18. BMC Public Health. 2011 Apr 08;11:217 - PubMed
19. Matern Child Nutr. 2010 Oct;6(4):318-27 - PubMed
20. Indian Pediatr. 1995 Dec;32(12):1287-96 - PubMed
21. J Nutr. 1995 Jan;125(1):57-65 - PubMed
22. Int Breastfeed J. 2009 Aug 05;4:8 - PubMed
23. Indian J Community Med. 2009 Jul;34(3):243-6 - PubMed
24. Pediatrics. 1991 Mar;87(3):298-305 - PubMed

Publication Types

• Journal Article