The Association between Ethnicity and Level of Education with Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice in the Context of the Place of Residence in Nigeria

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p><jats:bold>Background</jats:bold>While researches have been done separately on ethnicity and level of education as factors of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) practice, there is dearth of studies on the peculiarities of EBF practice in the context place of residence as regards to the combined influence of ethnicity and level of education. To<jats:bold> </jats:bold>examine the association of ethnicity and level of education with exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) practice in urban and rural areas of Nigeria.<jats:bold>Methods</jats:bold>Data was from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) of 2018. The sample comprised of 16,982 urban and 24,834 rural women aged 15-49 years in all the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria. The outcome variable was exclusive breast-feeding (EBF) practice while the major predictor variables were ethnicity and level of education. Analyses of data were by descriptive statistics, Pearson Chi square and binary logistic regression at 0.05 level of significance. <jats:bold>Results</jats:bold>Higher education levels were significantly associated with decreased engagement in EBF practice in urban and rural areas while ethnic differences were significantly associated with EBF practice in the rural areas. Being aged 25-34 years (OR=2.316; <jats:italic>p</jats:italic>=0.000) was significantly associated with increased odds of EBF practice in urban areas. Moreover, region of residence was significantly associated with EBF practice in the rural areas. Finally, in both rural and urban areas, households with more than two children were significantly associated with increased odds of EBF.<jats:bold>Conclusions</jats:bold>More sensitization campaigns on the need to incorporate EBF practice into formal employment work ethics where women with higher levels of education mostly work are needed in urban areas. In addition, ethnic practices, which promote EBF practices, should be encouraged in antenatal and postnatal clinics.</jats:p>