Abstract:
Back ground: To achieve optimal growth, development and health, WHO recommends that
infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. Breast-feeding reduces the
prevalence of diarrhea and pneumonia, partly which can reduce infant mortality. Poor
breastfeeding practices are still common, both in developing and developed countries. In
Ethiopia exclusively breastfeed practice was approximately half of children under six months.
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess exclusive breastfeeding practices and
associated factors among mothers with infants during the first 6 months.
Method and materials: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among a
sample of 391 mothers with children 6-12 months of age and mothers were selected using simple
random sampling from each rural kebeles in Amuru district from February to March. Data was
collected using designed questionnaire and it was checked manually for completeness and
consistencies, and after completion of editing, coding, and cleaning, data was entered to EpiData version 3.1 and exported in to SPSS window version 21 software for analysis. Bivariate
logistic regression was performed to each independent variable with exclusive breastfeeding
practices and variables with a p value < 0.25 was candidated for multivariable logistic
regression analysis. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Result: About 48% of mothers exclusively breastfed their child for six months. Mothers age
(AOR= 5.1, 95%CI=1.5,17.4), husbands education (AOR=2.8, 95% CI=1.2 , 6.7), Ownership of
radio (AOR=2.8, 95%CI= 1.2,6.7), ANC follow up (AOR=9.2, 95% C.I= 8.2, 44.9),Place of
delivery (AOR=4.3, 95%CI=1.8, 9.7) and time to initiate breastfeeding (AOR= 4.2, 95%CI=1.3,
13.4) were independent predictors of exclusive breastfeeding practice.
Conclusion and recommendation: In this study, Practice of exclusive breastfeeding was below
the WHO recommendation. Maternal ages, husband education, owner of radio, ANC visit, place
of delivery and time to initiate breastfeeding were significantly associated with EBF practice.
Therefore, there should be an emphasis on the breastfeeding intervention programs during
antenatal check-ups, as well as promoting and strengthening institutional delivery in order to
increase the proportion of women practicing EBF.
