Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice and associated factors among mothers of infants aged under six months in rural kebeles of Boke district, West Hararghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is the best and cost effective intervention to prevent childhood morbidities and mortalities. It prevents 13% of childhood mortality, and it is estimated that the lives of at least 1.4 million deaths worldwide among children under five would be saved every year. Globally 36% and about 39% of infants in the developing countries are exclusively breastfed even though 90% and above are recommended to benefit from the practice. Moreover, there are inconsistencies among estimates in different regions and districts of the country and there was no study conducted on similar topic in the study area. Objective: To assess the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice and associated factors among mothers of infants less than six months of age in rural kebeles of Boke district, West Hararghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia. Method and Materials: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted in rural kebeles of Boke District, West Hararghe on 393 mothers having infants aged less than six months. Systematic random sampling technique was used to recruit study participants. Structured and pretested questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data were collected by trained nurses after two days training prior to data collection. The collected data were entered in to EPiData version 3.1 computer software and then exported to SPSS statistical software version 20.0 for data analysis. Bi variable logistic regression was performed to assess the association between each independent and dependent variable and Variables with p-value< 0.25 were taken in to multivariable logistic regression models. Multivariable analyses were performed to identify factors associated with the outcome variable along with 95% Confidence intervals and control possible confounding. Level of statistical significance was declared at p value less than 0.05. Results: The total prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice in the last 24 hours preceding the survey was 55.9% [95% CL: 50.7%, 60.8%]. Mothers age 15-24years [AOR= 3.58 (95% CI: (1.06, 11.95)] and 25-34 years [AOR=3.49 (95% CI: 1.08, 11.28)], delivering at a health facility [AOR=1.96 (95% CI: 1.24, 3.12)], having good Knowledge on breastfeeding[AOR=1.82 (95% CI: 1.16, 2.86)] and educated mothers [AOR=2.98 (95% CI: 1.92, 4.62)] were found to be significantly associated with exclusive breastfeeding practice. Conclusion: The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in this study area was low. Exclusive breastfeeding practices were significantly associated with age of the mothers, Place of delivery, Knowledge status of mothers and educational status of mother’s. Strengthening maternal education, promoting institutional delivery and improving maternal knowledge through behavior change communication were recommended to increase the proportion of women practicing exclusive breastfeeding.