Breastfeeding practices within the first six months of age in mid-western and eastern regions of Nepal: a health facility-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: The World Health Organization recommends initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth and exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months of age. Infant feeding practices, including suboptimal breastfeeding practices, are associated with stunting. Rate of stunting was highest in the Mid-western region and lowest in the Eastern region of Nepal. This study aimed to assess the breastfeeding practices in these two regions, as well as to identify factors associated with partial breastfeeding. Methods: We conducted a health facility-based cross-sectional study in the Mid-western and Eastern regions of Nepal from December 2017 to May 2018. Investigators administered a pre-tested questionnaire among consecutive 574 mother-infant dyads at different levels of health facilities. We dichotomized the breastfeeding pattern to partial breastfeeding and full (exclusive or predominant) breastfeeding. We conducted multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with partial breastfeeding within 6 months of age. Results: There were 574 infants included in the study, all of which received at least some breastfeeding. Only 23.2% of infants were exclusively breastfed until 6 months, with 28.2% predominantly breastfed and 48.6% partially breastfed. Partial breastfeeding rate was 52.3% in the Mid-western region and 44.4% in the Eastern region. Breastfeeding was initiated within an hour from birth in 67.2% of infants. One-quarter of infants were given pre-lacteal feed, honey being the commonest. Knowledge of the recommended duration of exclusive breastfeeding was inadequate in 16, and 65% of mothers reported breastfeeding problems in the first 6 months. Firstborn and low birth weight infants had a significantly higher rate of partial breastfeeding. Partial breastfeeding was also higher when infants were not breastfed within 1 hour from birth, mothers reported having breastfeeding-related problems or had inadequate knowledge of the duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusion: Nearly half of the infants were fully breastfed at 6 months of age in Nepal. The rate of partial breastfeeding was higher with inadequate knowledge on duration of exclusive breastfeeding or late initiation of breastfeeding or perceived breastfeeding problems. Hence, programs should address knowledge and practice gaps in breastfeeding practices, particularly among mothers of low birth weight and firstborn infants.

Factors Associated with Discontinuing Exclusive Breastfeeding among Mothers of Infants Aged 0-6 Months

“…In this study, mean age of the respondent (mother) was 27.39 ± 3.64 years and that of child was 3.62 ± 1.70 months which was similar to the mean age of mothers 25.38 ± 4.14 years, but not to that of infants which was 9.98 ± 2.26 months because this study only included infants under 6 months of age. 5 In the present study, maternal education was above secondary level whereas contrary findings were present in a similar study where almost half (47.5%) had above primary level education. This difference might be due to the data collection technique in the current study via online where only educated people with internet access got chances to participate.…”

Infant and young child feeding practices and its associated factors among mothers of under two years children in a western hilly region of Nepal

“…In our study, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 47.6%, which was higher than the global average rate of 40% [ 33 ] and lower than the national average rate of 66% [ 34 ]. This finding was higher than the study conducted in the mid-western and eastern regions of Nepal [ 35 ] and slightly lower than the study conducted in rural southern Nepal [ 11 ]. This variation might be due small sample size compared to this study.…”

Determinant of Mother’s Health Promotional Measures Practice of Infant with Age 6–12 Months in a Tertiary Hospital of Nepal

“…e present study found slightly less than three-fourths of the babies were exclusively breast fed (EBF) for complete 6 months of age. However, several other studies conducted in different [24], and other studies conducted in Nepal [25][26][27], south India [28], Trongsa District, Bhutan [29], northwest Ethiopia [30], and Jimma town, southwest Ethiopia [31] reported a lower proportion of the babies were exclusively breast fed for 6 months than the present study. In contrast to this study, another study conducted in Chepang communities of Makawanpur district, Nepal [32], and Northwest Ethiopia [33] found that higher proportion of the babies were exclusive breast fed until 6 months.…”