Abstract:
Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is a situation where infant feed only breast milk without any other liquid or solid, except prescribed medicines in the first 6 months. Globally, about 3 million infants die in their first month of life of which 11.6 % can be prevented by EBF. The recommended way of feeding for HIV positive mother in the first 6 months of life is either exclusive breast feeding or exclusive replacement feeding. However, replacement and mixed feeding increase the risk of infant mortality and morbidity in developing countries. Exclusive breast feeding offer effective means of reducing HIV transmission than mixed feeding.
Objective: To assess exclusive breastfeeding practice and associated factors among HIV positive mothers attending governmental health facilities of Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia, 2021.
Methods: A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted among 315 HIV positive mothers from April 10 to June 25/2021. Eight health facilities (3 hospitals and 5 health centers) which give PMTCT service to mothers of 6-24 months children were sampled by simple random sampling technique and mothers who visit PMTCT clinics during data collection period were enrolled in the study. The study was also supplemented by qualitative method. The data was entered by Epidata 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify factors associated with EBF. Qualitative data was also analyzed by thematic analysis manually and triangulated with the quantitative findings. Finally, the result was displayed by text, table and graphs.
Result: About 78.7 % of the mothers were practiced EBF. Place of residence(AOR=0.41, 95% CI; 0.18-0.94), place of delivery(AOR=6.72, 95% CI; 1.23-36.62), counseling on breast feeding during ANC visit(AOR=3.76, 95% CI; 1.08-13.09), HIV status disclosure (AOR=5.32, 95% CI; 2.32-12.17), knowledge (AOR= 4.94, 95% CI; 2.23-10.94) and attitude towards EBF (AOR=4.07, 95% CI; 1.81-9.12) were significantly associated with EBF practice.
Conclusion: - In this study, majority of the participants practices EBF. Counseling about infant feeding option to make informed decision, encourage the mothers to disclose their HIV status to their spouse, increase awareness of the mothers to improve their knowledge and attitude could boost EBF practice of HIV positive mothers.
