Factors Associated with Time to Cease Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Infants Aged 6–9 Months, Kirkos Sub-City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Survival Analysis

Abstract

Notwithstanding the World Health Organization's (WHO) guideline for exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months of an infant's life, its prevalence remains low in both developed and developing countries. Although breastfeeding is widely practiced in Ethiopia, only 59% of the children under the age of six months were exclusively breastfed.Objective: This study aimed to assess the time to cessation of EBF and associated factors among infants aged 6-9 months in health facilities under Kirkos sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 287 mothers attending Kirkos sub-city health facilities from September 1 to 30, 2020. Bivariable and multivariable Cox regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with the time to cessation of EBF. Results: According to this finding, the median period for EBF discontinuation was 6 months. Early cessation of EBF was 130 (45.8%) days. Mothers with average household monthly income <15 USD [