Determi a Ts of Breastfeedi G Practice Amo G Mothers of Childre Aged Less Tha 24 Mo ths Atte Di G Gover Me Tal Mater Al A D Child Health Cli Ics I Mekelle Tow , Orther Ethiopia
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Date
2011-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background- Breastfeeding and good nutrition for children are essential for achieving the
Millennium Development Goals, particularly the goals relating to child survival. Even though
most mothers in Ethiopia breastfeed their babies, they do not always follow the
recommendations of the "National Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding,". Mothers do
not initiate breastfeeding within one hour after delivery, majority of them provide pre-lacteal
feed and they do not exclusively breast feed to six months. Although the implementation of the
national infant and young child feeding guideline has been in place since 2004, there is limited
study which evaluated breastfeeding practices in the study area in this regard.
Objective- The aim of this study was to assess determinants of breast feeding practice among
mothers’ of children aged less than 24 months attending governmental maternal and child health
clinics in Mekelle town.
Methods- Institution based cross sectional study was carried out among five health facilities
selected using simple random sampling technique. Data was collected by interviewer
administered structured questionnaire and it was entered, cleaned and analyzed by using SPSS
for windows version 16.0. Proportion was used to describe the results and it was presented in the
form of figures, tables and texts. Binary logistic regression model was used to test association
between dependent and independent variables.
Result- A total of 361 mothers with their index child were interviewed. The ever breastfeeding
rate in this study was 98.9%. The timely initiation rate of breastfeeding and exclusive
breastfeeding were 77.9% and 60.8%, respectively. Eighty five percent of mothers reported on
demand breastfeeding. The continued breast feeding rate at one year and at two years was 95.7%
and 65.6% respectively. Home delivery (AOR=3.7[95%CI= 1.81, 9.33]), Vaginal delivery
(AOR=14.4[95%CI=4.8, 43.7])
and
non
health
professional
as
a
birth
attendant
(AOR=3.5[95%CI=1.21, 8.53]) were found to be positively statistically associated with timely
initiation of breastfeeding (P<0.05). Employment status (AOR=4.81(95%CI=2.27, 10.16]) and
Child’s age (AOR=3.42[95%CI1.36, 8.59]) were associated with exclusive breastfeeding
practice for the first 6 months.
Conclusion and recommendation-: A range of characteristics affect the practice of timely
initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding such as socio-demographic, obstetric and
health service related practices/factors. Coordination, strengthening and sustaining of the existing
strategies, and approaches for further improvement of optimal breastfeeding practice is
recommended
Key words: Timely initiation, exclusive breastfeeding
Description
Keywords
Timely Initiation, Exclusive breastfeeding