Abstract:
Promotion of exclusive breastfeeding is the single most cost-effective intervention
to reduce infant mortality in developing countries. Workplace barriers contribute to low rates of
exclusive breastfeeding practices. Despite its benefits, evidence on the practice of exclusive
breastfeeding among employed women is limited in Ethiopia including in the study area.
Objective: To assess the Magnitude of Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice and Associated Factors
Among Urban Government Employed Mothers Visiting Health Center in Kolfe Keranyo Sub
City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: Facility based cross-sectional study design was done among randomly selected 317
adult age government employed mothers of children aged 6 to 23 months in Kolfe Keranyo sub
city, selected governmental organization, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from July23-August 23, 2021.
Data were entered to EpiData version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for further analysis.
Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done to assess factors associated
with exclusive breastfeeding practice. Odds ratio along with 95% confidence interval (CI) were
estimated to measure the strength of the association. Level of statistical significance was
declared at p value less than 0.05. Results were displayed using tables and figures.
Result: The magnitude of exclusive breastfeeding practice among urban government employed
mothers was 25.2%, 95% CI: (20.3%, 30.1%). Being health worker by occupation [(AOR= 5.86
,95%CI:(2.92, 11.74)], maternal age, 21-30 years [(AOR= 0.02,95%CI:(0.002, 0.11)] , 31-40
years [(AOR=0.04 ,95%CI:(0.007, 0.25)], mother’s favorable attitude towards infant and young
child feeding(IYCF) practice [ (AOR=5.44, 95%CI : (1.71, 17.27)] , and being para two and
above [(AOR=0.46, 95%CI:(0.23, 0.91)] were significantly associated with exclusive
breastfeeding.
Conclusion: The magnitude of exclusive breastfeeding practice among government employed
mothers was very low relative to WHO’s recommendation. Maternal age, occupation, attitude
towards IYCF, and parity were identified as significant predictors of exclusive breastfeeding.
Efforts in improving the practice of exclusive breastfeeding through behavior change
communication towards the practice in particular and empowering mothers to have favourable
attitude towards infant and young child feeding practices in general were recommended
