Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice and Work- Related Factors among Health Care Workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2021-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background. Breastfeeding is one of the most powerful practices for promoting child survival and well-being. Healthcare workers have a responsibility to promote and support breastfeeding among their clients, even though their ability to do this may be influenced by their workplace environment and personal experience. However, little is known about exclusive breastfeeding practices and the perceived barriers among health workers.
Objective: To assess the exclusive breastfeeding practices and work-related factors among healthcare workers with children between the ages of 4-6 months in government and private hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Method: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among 369 health care worker mothers with children between the ages of 4-6 months from January to February, 2021.
Exclusive breastfeeding was assessed based on infant feeding practice in the 24 hours preceding the survey. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection and EPI data version 4.6.0 to enter, clean and Stata version 16.0 was used to analyze data. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were fitted to identify the presence and strength of association.
Odds ratios with 95% confidence interval were computed to determine the level of significance.
Result: The magnitude of exclusive breastfeeding among healthcare workers with infants between the age of 4-6 months was 26.6% (95 % CI: 22, 31) in the 24 hours preceding the survey. Being employee of a government hospital (AOR = 3.09; 95% CI: 1.44, 6.63), giving birth through spontaneous vaginal delivery (AOR=3.71; 95% CI: 1.48, 9.26), being a part time employee (AOR=2.2; 95% CI: 1.19, 4.06) and resumption of work at 5 months (AOR = 3.69; 95% CI: 2.1, 6.46) were found to be significantly associated with higher exclusive breastfeeding practice.
Conclusion: A small proportion of infants are exclusively breastfed during the first 6 months, despite what is recommended in the national and global infant and young child feeding guidelines.The type of organization, mode of delivery, working status and time of return to work were factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding practice. Employers should make workplaces more breastfeeding friendly to enhance exclusive breastfeeding.