Assessment of Factors Associated with Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices of HIV Positive Mothers in Selected Hospitals of SNNPR, Ethiopia.
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Date
2011-05
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Introduction: Mother-to-child transmission is the largest source of HIV infection in children.
About one third of children infected are believed to be vertically during breast-feeding. Infant
feeding in the context of HIV is complex. HIV positive women are confused about feeding
methods and mixed feeding continued to be widespread. However, there is little literature on the
practice of HIV positive mothers and counseling message of health workers in Ethiopia.
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess magnitude and factors associated with infant
and young child feeding practice of HIV positive mothers in selected hospitals, Southern Nations
Nationalities and Peoples of Region, 2011.
Methods: An institution based cross sectional study was conducted using both quantitative and
qualitative methods. A total of 201 HIV positive mothers with children less than two years of age
were selected at morning time in order of arrival. Health workers working on anti -retroviral
therapy and prevention of mother to child transmission clinics were taken for in-depth interview
in Hawassa, Yirgalem and Dilla Hospitals.
Result: A sample of 183 HIV positive mothers participated in the study making the response rate
of 91%. Of all respondent, 87(47.5%) HIV positive mothers had children with the age of less
than 6 months, among 87(47.5%) HIV positive mothers, 56.3% had experience of exclusive
breast feeding, 35.6% mixed feeding and 8.1% exclusive replacement feeding. Regarding issues
discussed during counseling time by health workers, from total of 183 HIV positive mothers,
78.7% mothers received counseling on different feeding options. Most, 96.2% and 76.0% of
mothers received counseling on advantages & disadvantages of breast feeding respectively, and
67.8% and71% disadvantages of replacement and mixed feeding respectively. Mother‘s who had
antenatal follow up and favorable attitude towards feeding options were more likely to practice
exclusive breast feeding and less likely to practice mixed feeding.
Conclusions and Recommendations: more than half of mothers practiced exclusive breast
feeding and very small proportion of HIV positive mothers chose replacement feeding, but still
greater than one third of HIV positive mothers practiced mixed feeding. In general, infant and
young child feeding practices observed in this study fall sort of the WHO recommendations, so it
is recommended that all HIV positive mothers should be provided with adequate information to
enable them to select the best feeding option for their babies, and to successfully carry out their
infant feeding decisions.
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Keywords
Infant , young child,HIV Positive mothers