Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice and Its Associated Factors among Mothers Having Less Than Six Month Infants in Seka Chekorsa, Southwest Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as feeding breast milk only, for the first six months. In Ethiopia, more than half of infants do not receive exclusive breastfeeding. Understanding the socio-demographic, health related, behavioral and economic factors is crucial to promote the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in Ethiopia. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the extent of exclusive breastfeeding practice and associated factors among lactating mothers in Seka chekorsa, southwest Ethiopia, 2021. Objectives: To assess magnitude and factors of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers having less than six month infants in Seka chekorsa, Southwest Ethiopia 2021. Methods: A community- based cross-sectional study using quantitative method was conducted from June 1-30, 2021 in Seka chekorsa among 392 lactating mothers. Simple random sampling technique was used. Data was entered into EPI-Data exported and analyzed using SPSS software. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were done to examine the relationship between Exclusive breastfeeding and selected exposure factors with p-value 0.25. Also used 95% CI and adjusted odds ratio. Result: A total of 392 mothers who had children aged less than 6 months were interviewed. The exclusive breastfeeding practice in this study was found to be 75.8% and infants who are born in health facility were about 2.90 times more likely to be exclusively breastfed than those who are born at home [AOR= 2.90, 95% CI (1.37 - 6.16)]. Similarly, the odds of EBF for mothers who give antenatal care was 3.44 times higher as compared to mothers who didn’t attend antenatal care [AOR= 3.44, 95% CI (1.57-7.55). An infant whose age is 0-1 month was 5.81 times more likely exclusively breastfed than infant aged 4-6 months [AOR= 5.81, 95% CI (1.90-17.69)]. Conclusion and recommendation: Overall practice of exclusive breast-feeding among mothers having less than six month infants was 75.8% and majority of mothers fed their child 6 to 10 times per day. Educational status, birth interval, place of delivery, age of infant, antenatal care, and attitude about breastfeeding after delivery were found to be statistically significantly associated with exclusive breast-feeding. It is recommended that healthcare workers, health task force, and concerned bodies give due attention and work on the encouragement of pregnant women to attend antenatal care follow up to get nutritional counseling and education about infant feeding including exclusive breastfeeding to increase the practice Moreover, a special breastfeeding place for working mothers or daycare facilities should be established and organized.