Assessment of Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice and Associated Factors Among Mothers in Motta Town, East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia, 2015
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Date
2015-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is the best and cost effective intervention to prevent
childhood morbidities and mortalities. It prevents 13% of childhood mortality; i.e, at least
1.2 million children worldwide would be saved every year. Globally not more than 35% of
infants are exclusively breastfed. In developing countries 38% of infants less than 6 months old
are exclusively breastfeed. While in Ethiopia approximately half (52 %) of infants less than six
month old are exclusively breastfeed.
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess exclusive breastfeeding practice and
associated factors among mothers who have infants less than six months of age in Motta town,
East Gojjam, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia, 2015.
Method: Community based quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted from April 7, 2015
to May 7, 2015. Simple random sampling technique was applied after taking all registered
mothers who have infants less than 6 months old from local health extension workers of each
kebele. A total of 423 mothers with infant less than six month old were included in this study.
The data was collected from all four Kebeles using interviewer admistered questioaire.
Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to present the data. Both bivariate and multivariate
logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding
practice.
Result: Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 50.1% [95% CL: 45.22%- 54.98%]. Mothers
with young infant (0-1month) [AOR=3.858(1.642, 9.067)], unemployed [AOR=3.008(1.459, 6.2
02)], low income [AOR= 3.605(1.745, 7.451)], got breastfeeding counseling during pregnancy
[AOR= 2.764 (1.522, 4.998)], fed colostrum [AOR=3.503(1.451, 8.452)], didn't give prelactal
food [AOR=4.4832(1.823, 11.028)] and supported by husband [AOR=2.686 (1.037, 6.953)] were
more likely to practice EBF than their counterparts.
Conclusion and recommendations: Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice in study area
was 50.1%. Age of the child, maternal occupation, income, breastfeeding counseling during
ANC, husband support of breastfeeding and colostrum feeding were independent predictors of
exclusive breastfeeding practice. Recommendations to increase exclusive breastfeeding practice
are revising post partum maternity leave, increasing health professional's habit of breast feeding
counseling through training, involving husband during counseling, educating mothers and
community as a whole to avoid traditional practices that hinder EBFup to six months.
Key words: Exclusive Breastfeeding, Prevalence, Associated Factors, Motta, Ethiopia.
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Keywords
Exclusive breastfeeding, Prevalence, Associated factors, Motta