Exclusive Breastfeeding up to Six Months is Very Rare in Tanzania: A Cohort Study of Infant Feeding Practices in Kilimanjaro Area

Abstract

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is recommended the first six months after birth as one of cost effective interventions in saving children's lives. Objective: To determine the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and describe the common foods introduced to infants before 6months. Design: A prospective cohort study. Setting: Poor community of Moshi urban, Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania. Subjects: Women in their third trimester and were followed to 18 months after delivery. A questionnaire was used to collect information on maternal socio-demographics, delivery status and infant feeding practices at each visit. Maternal HIV status was checked at enrolment. Results: Out of 2231 women, with a live birth, 70% (1535) came back at least once after delivery and information on infant feeding were collected. 94% of the women were living below the poverty line. The prevalence of EBF at 1, 3 and up to 6 months was 48.8%, 22.0% and 0.2% respectively. Two percent of the infants were given semi-solids at 1 month, 35% at 3 months and 95% at 5 months. Water and cow's milk were the most common liquids introduced to infants by one month, while porridge, cow's milk and mtori were commonly introduced at 3 months. Conclusions: EBF up to 6 month is very rare in Kilimanjaro. There is an urgent need to strengthen community and health facility based EBF interventions so as to reach the 90% recommended coverage by the WHO. This will help in improving child survival and in attaining the Millennium Development Goal 4.

Prevalence and factors associated with early initiation of breastfeeding among women in Moshi municipal, northern Tanzania

“…The prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding observed in the current study of 83% is higher than the proportions reported in earlier studies in Kilimanjaro region. Over time proportion of women initiating breastfeeding within an hour of birth increased from 70% in 2002-06 [30] to 77% in 2010-11 [31]. Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey of 2015-16 reported the national prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding of 51%, with wide regional variations; ranging from 26% in Simiyu region to 80% in Tanga region.…”

Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates and Factors Associated with Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices in Northern Tanzania: Measurement using Two Different Methodologies—24 Hours Recall and Recall Since Birth

“…With regards to the area-specific issues around the study, there seems to be a slight improvement in EBF practices, when comparing the data from the present study with another study which was also done in Moshi, Tanzania. That study was based on cohort data collected in 2002 – 2006; EBF was measured using recall since birth at one, three and six months and the rates were 49%, 22% and 0.2% respectively 29. The improvement can be due to the counseling the mothers receive from health providers on the importance of EBF.…”

Infant feeding practices in the Saharawi refugee camps Algeria, a cross-sectional study among children from birth to six months of age

“…In a study from Tanzania, exclusive breastfeeding was rare, and solid foods seemed to be introduced before the age of 6 months, and semi solid foods was introduced already from 1 month’s age among some of the children [44]. In a recent study among seven West African countries, the introduction of complementary foods was commonly seen among children 3–5 months of age, and were further associated with diarrhea and acute respiratory infections [45].…”