Exclusive breastfeeding and associated factors among mothers in Debre Markos, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundExclusive breastfeeding is the most widely known and effective intervention for preventing early-childhood deaths. Optimum breastfeeding practices can prevent 1.4 million deaths worldwide among children under five every year. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and associated factors among mothers who have an infant less than six months old in Debre Markos, Northwest Ethiopia.MethodsA community based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 1 to 30, 2013. A simple random sampling technique was used from a list of all mothers who had an infant less than six months old obtained from the health extension workers (HEWs) registration book in all kebeles (neighbourhoods) of the city. A total of 423 mothers with infants less than six months old were included in this study. Data were collected using questionnaires administered at interview. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding.ResultsThe prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding during the seven days before the survey was 60.8% (95% CI: 55.8%, 65.8%). Those mothers who were unemployed [AOR = 1.98 (1.21, 3.22)], received breastfeeding counseling during antenatal care (ANC) [AOR = 2.44 (1.53, 3.91)], received infant feeding counseling during postnatal care (PNC) [AOR = 5.03 (3.04, 8.31)], didn’t give prelacteal feeding [AOR = 3.44 (1.88, 6.33)] and had adequate knowledge about breastfeeding [AOR = 2.57 (1.57, 4.19)] were more likely to practice EBF than their counterparts.ConclusionsAlthough the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was lower in the study area than international recommendations, rates were higher than found in other studies. Recommendations for improving exclusive breastfeeding include better support for working mothers through extending maternal leave and establishing work-site day care centers for infants, expanding the urban health extension program so that more pregnant women and mothers can be taught about appropriate infant and young child feeding practices and how to express their milk, thereby increasing their breastfeeding knowledge.

Mother's exclusive breastfeeding behavior: a cross sectional study in Pekanbaru, Indonesia

“…a: Probability using Mann-Whitney test; Mean ± SD (Median) b: Using WHO criteria with WAZ score; Underweight: malnutrition and underweight; Non underweight: normal and overweight c: A place to detect the growth and development of under five children at community in Indonesia breastfeeding. Maternal employment status correlates to EBF practice, 16,17 but contrary to the previous studies, the number of stay at home, housewife mothers giving supplementary feeding earlier than WHO recommendation is greater than EBF. The education level of stay at home mothers in the present study were dominantly low, and the majority among them are non EBF mothers whose education either low or mid level (p <.001).…”

“…Insufficient supply of breast milk is the most common reason given by mothers when the mother give up the provision the breastfeeding to their babies besides unsatisfied of baby. 21,22,16 This illustrates that many housewive mothers lack of knowledge and attitudes about EBF because their non EBF mothers reasons are less breastfeeding, baby is hungry, and they don't know about breastfeeding. Non EBF mothers gave the supplemental food to their babies because most of them felt breastfeeding only was not enough for theirs babies.…”

“…Mothers' knowledge and attitudes about complementary food for infant under six months also contribute to maternal behaviour in this study and another studies. 16,24 Lack of mother's knowledge about breastfeeding would make the mothers have misperception about breastfeeding so that mothers do not feel confident that their breast feeding alone will make insufficient for baby need. Mothers who are confused their breastfeeding ability will start to give supplemental feeding.…”

Influence of weight concerns on breastfeeding: Evidence from the Norwegian mother and child cohort study

“…Reasons include difficult births and delayed lactogenesis II related to having high body fat (see Babendure, Reifsnider, Mendias, Moramarco, & Davila, 2015 for review). However, breastfeeding decisions are driven to a large extent by maternal intention and decision‐making.…”

Review on Optimal duration of Exclusive Breastfeeding:Indian Perspectives

“…[42] Antenatal care, a basic component of maternal health care, is an ideal entry point to offer multiple health and nutritional interventions to endorse maternal and fetal health, birth awareness, [45] and breastfeeding behaviours. [44] In addition to this, deliveries in institution creates better chance for neonates to receive skin-to-skin care from their mother, a newborn care practice established to increase the likelihood of early initiation, prolonged duration and exclusive breastfeeding. [43,46] …”