BackgroundExclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life is recommended internationally. This study aimed to investigate exclusive breastfeeding practices and associated factors among mothers of infants aged less than 6 months.MethodsA community based cross-sectional study was conducted on mother-infant pairs in Dubti town in May, 2015. In this study, exclusive breastfeeding was defined as an infant’s breast milk consumption without supplementation of any type of food or drink, except for vitamins, minerals and necessary medications in the 24 h preceding the survey. Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were employed to identify the factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding practices. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 in the multivariable model were identified as predictors of exclusive breastfeeding practices.ResultsExclusive breastfeeding under 6 months was practiced by 81.1 % (95 % Confidence Interval [CI] 77.0, 85.0 %) of mothers of infants aged less than 6 months. The median duration of exclusive breastfeeding for infants less than 6 months was 3 months. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that initiation of breastfeeding within 1 h after birth (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 5.46; 95 % CI 1.93, 15.41), age of infants of less than 2 months (AOR 7.03; 95 % CI 2.16, 22.88), being a housewife (AOR 4.81; 95 % CI 2.30, 10.06) and mothers who received postnatal counseling (AOR 3.88; 95 % CI 1.88, 7.99) were positive predictors of exclusive breastfeeding.ConclusionThe study revealed that exclusive breastfeeding under 6 months using 24-h recall method was lower than the World Health Organization recommendation. Therefore, interventions could focus on educating mothers the importance of timely initiation of breastfeeding and postnatal care in the study area.

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Background: Breast Self-Examination is process whereby women examine their breasts regularly to detect any abnormal swelling or lumps in order to seek prompt medical attention. Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women globally and the second commonest cancer overall. The aim of this study was to assess practice of breast self-examination and associated factors among Health science female students at Ambo University in 2019.Methodology: - Institutional based cross-sectional survey was carried out among Health science female students at Ambo University in 2019. Data was collected by using a pre tested and pretested self-administered questionnaires. The response was systematically tabulated and analyzed using SPSS version 20, and explanations were given separately.Result- A total of 150 respondents participated in the study, of these 80 (53.3%) of them had good knowledge and only 67(44.7%) of the respondents had practiced BSE before. Among study participants whose families had breast cancer, practice BSE 2.12 times more than study participants whose families didn’t have his tory of breast cancer (AOR=2.12; 95% CI, 1.09–3.95, P=0.044). Those who had good knowledge toward BSE were 5.5 times more likely to practice BSE than those who had poor knowledge (AOR=9.5; 95% CI, 5.5–18.8, P=0.002).Conclusions- The overall knowledge of female students towards breast self-examination was 62%. This study showed that only 67(44.7%) of the study participants ever practiced BSE. The independeent predictors of breast self examination was family history of breast cancer and knowledge how to perform breast self examination.

Background: Breast Self-Examination is process whereby women examine their breasts regularly to detect any abnormal swelling or lumps in order to seek prompt medical attention. Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women globally and the second commonest cancer overall. The aim of this study was to assess practice of breast self-examination and associated factors among Health science female students at Ambo University in 2019. Methodology: - Institutional based cross-sectional survey was carried out among Health science female students at Ambo University in 2019. Data was collected by using a pre tested and pretested self-administered questionnaires. The response was systematically tabulated and analyzed using SPSS version 20, and explanations were given separately. Result- A total of 150 respondents participated in the study, of these 80 (53.3%) of them had good knowledge and only 67(44.7%) of the respondents had practiced BSE before. Among study participants whose families had breast cancer, practice BSE 2.12 times more than study participants whose families didn’t have his tory of breast cancer (AOR=2.12; 95% CI, 1.09–3.95, P=0.044). Those who had good knowledge toward BSE were 5.5 times more likely to practice BSE than those who had poor knowledge (AOR=9.5; 95% CI, 5.5–18.8, P=0.002). Conclusions- The overall knowledge of female students towards breast self-examination was 62%. This study showed that only 67(44.7%) of the study participants ever practiced BSE. The independeent predictors of breast self examination was family history of breast cancer and knowledge how to perform breast self examination.