Assessment of Exclusive Breast-Feeding Practice and Associated Factors Among Mothers of Children Under Six Months in Arbaminch Town, Ethiopia, 2022 G.C
Abstract:
Background: Breastfeeding is a natural food that is a complete source of infant nutrition for the first six months of life. The World Health Organization and other entities recommend that newborns be exclusively breastfed for the first six months without additional food or drink. Mothers' breast milk is believed to provide the newborn with all the necessary nutrients for its development. However, despite the wealth of evidence supporting the exclusive breastfeeding practice, its coverage has been indicated in the literature to be far below the recommended level in many parts of the world, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Several factors have also been indicated to be associated with exclusive breastfeeding practice.
Objective: To assess EBF practice and associated factors among mothers of children less than six months in Arab Minch town in 2022.
Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was used to assess the status of EBF practice and associated factors among mothers of children under six months old in Arba Minch town. The sample size was calculated using a single population proportion formula, and the final sample size was 402. In this study, a systematic random sampling technique was used. Data was checked, coded, and entered into SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) version 2 5 for analysis.
Results: In this Study, 391 mothers participated, making a response rate of 97.2%. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers was 60.2 %. Mothers with education levels above secondary level were six times more likely to breastfeed exclusively than those who didn't attend formal education AOR (95%CI)6.021(2.877-12.603). Mothers who were housewives were two times more likely to exclusively breastfeed than government employees AOR (95%CI) 2.432 (1.031-5.740).
Conclusion: In this Study, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practices (60.2 %) among women with infants under six months of age was low compared to the WHO recommendation that every woman breastfeed their children exclusively for the first six months. From the empirical result, the educational status of women and mothers' Occupations were statistically significant factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding practices.
