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Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding is a natural food that serves as a complete source of infant nutrition for the first six months of life. Infants that are exclusively breastfed have a lower chance of becoming ill or dying from diarrhea and infections and are less likely to acquire pneumonia, meningitis, and ear infections than those that were not exclusively breastfed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and determinant factors of EBF practice among mothers of children aged less than 12 months. Methods: Institutional based cross sectional study was conducted among 361mothers with infants less than 12 months selected from two governmental hospitals. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the data by using SPSS version 21 statistical software. Result: Three hundred forty six (95.8%) practiced breastfeeding, 187 (54%) of mothers initiated breastfeeding within one hour after delivery, 138 (39.8%) initiated breastfeeding with in the period 1 hour to 1 day and the rest, 21 (6.1%) initiated within 1-3 days. ANC follow up, most 312 (86.4%) mothers were attend ANC during their pregnancy, 303 (97%) of mothers were getting Health education on breastfeeding and 181 (50.1%) delivered at home. Conclusion and Recommendation: The overall breast feeding practices among mothers' were high, Culture was found to influence the practice of exclusive breast feeding practice, the mothers practice on breast feeding their child on demand, and the continued breastfeeding practice were high and should be strengthened.