+1 (629)348-3199Research Article - Journal of Public Health and Nutrition (2018) Volume 1, Issue 4
Factors associated with exclusive breast feeding among mothers of infants less than 6 months of age in Dubti District, Afar Region, Ethiopia.
Background: Breast milk is the safest and most natural food for an infant. When the baby is fed breast milk only, it is called exclusive breastfeeding. The global rates of exclusive breastfeeding rates have remained stagnant. In Ethiopia, even though breastfeeding is universal but only 58% do appropriate exclusive breast feeding. Objective: This study was aimed to assess magnitude of exclusive breastfeeding and associated factors among 0-6 months old infant in Dubti district, Afar region, Ethiopia, 2018. Methodology: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 1-30/2018 among 400 study participants. Data was collected using interviewer administered pre tested structured questioner. Data was cleaned and entered using EPI-Data version-3.02 and exported to SPSS version-20 for analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to measure the strength of association between explanatory variables and outcome variable. Variables with p<0.25 on invariable binary logistic regression was further analyzed on multivariable logistic regression and statistical significance was declared at p-value<5% with 95%CI. Result: The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in the last 24 hours preceding the survey was 78.3%. Being delivered in health facilities (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)=3.98, 95% CI (1.74, 9.1), feeding colostrum (AOR=7.82, 95% CI (2.43, 25.2) and received counseling on breast feeding during ante natal care visit (AOR=19.9, 95% CI (8.4, 47.32) were significantly associated with exclusive breast feeding. Conclusion: Prevalence of exclusive breast feeding practice was above the national target set to achieve in 2018 (which is 78.3% vs. 72% respectively). Being delivered in health facilities, feeding colostrum and received counseling on breast feeding during ante natal care visit were significantly associated with exclusive breast feeding. So, Counseling on exclusive breast-feeding during antenatal care service, encourage colostrum feeding and promoting institutional delivery is mandatory.
Author(s): Asiya Nur, Molla Kahssay, Etsay Woldu, Oumer Seid