Practice of Exclusive Breast Feeding and Its Associated Factors among Lactating Mothers in Dilla Zurya Woreda Gedeo Zone Ethiopia

Worku Girma and Negassa B

Published on: 2023-04-14

Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding is a natural gift that is very important for the fulfillment of natural necessity of new born. However, today the practice of breastfeeding especially Exclusive Breast Feeding (EBF)   up to 6 months of age is decreasing all over the world including the developing countries like Ethiopia despite its numerous advantages. Maternal parity, age, educational level and total family income are some of the reasons incremented for the decline in breast feeding. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine practice towards exclusive breast feeding and its associated factors in Dilla zuria District Gedeo zone Ethiopia.

Method: A community based cross sectional study was conducted on 237 mothers who lived in Dilla zuria district in may1 -20 /2019.  Simple random sampling technique was used after ethical clearance is obtained from the concerned authorities. Data was collected using structure data collecting format that designed for outcome variable as poor or good practices then cleaned, edited, and complied and displayed by tables, percentage, charts, and graphs and interpreted to give the necessary information. The data was organized and analyzed by SPSS version 20 statistical package to indicate significance between the outcome and independent variables at cut of point P<0.05 with 95% CI.

Result: A total of 237mother having of child below one years of age were involved in the study; more of the respondent were 95(40.2%) being in the age  group of 25-34 years and more than half of  the mother 139(58.6%)  practice of exclusive breast feeding for the first 6 months. The result of multivariate analysis showed that the practice of exclusive breast feeding was affected among illiterate [ARO=1.51; 95%CI: 1.414-4.198], farmer [AOR= 3.074; 95%CI: 1.602-9.430] but, more practice among mother who had positive attitude [AOR= 14.508; 95%CI: 1.576-33.566].

Conclusion: Practice of exclusive breast feeding of this study was relatively less compared to related studies and level of education, occupation of husband and positive attitude were investigated factors.  So, attention in health planning should be given on exclusive breast feeding promotion; health care providers and decision makers should be comprehensively address issues to improve more exclusive breast feeding practice in the community is recommended.