Intention of Exclusive Breast Feeding among Pregnant Women Using Theory of Planed Behavior in Medebay Zana District, Tigray Region, North Ethiopia

Abstract

It is recommended that all mothers breastfeed their children exclusively at least for the first 6 months, however, in Ethiopia only one in three children aged 4-5 months were breastfed exclusively. To this end study on individual and contextual factors that may affect the intention of pregnant women to exclusive breast-feeding is scarce in Ethiopia and study area in particular. It is timely and appropriate to study pregnant women’s behavioral intention to exclusive breast-feeding for the smooth implementation. The Objective the study was to assess intention of exclusive breast feeding among pregnant women in Medebay Zana District, North West of Tigray, North Ethiopia. Community based cross sectional study was conducted among sampled (n=709) pregnant women from January 25_ Februaray15, 2012.The behavioral intention question contained six domains on exclusive breast feeding: knowledge, future intention, attitude, behavioral beliefs, subjective norm, normative beliefs, perceived behavioral control, and control beliefs and power of control. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 software. Relationships among the major variables were described by correlation coefficients. Multiple linear regressions were used to identify variables, which independently contributed for intention to exclusive breast feed. Pregnant women’s attitude was found to be the most significant (P< 0.05) predictor of intention to exclusive breast feeding (22.2%). Subjective norms (4.5%) and perceived behavioral control (2.5%) explained the independent variables respectively. Previous breastfeeding experience and being a housewife were found to be an external factor, made a significant (P < 0.05) contribution to theory of planed behavior. so Information education communication and Behavioral change Communication should focus on addressing the attitude, perceived behavioral control and Subjective norm.