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Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is the best nutrition for the children during the first 6 months of life, yet despite knowing the clear benefits, the practice of Exclusive Breastfeeding is low. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine practice of exclusive breastfeeding and associated factors among lactating mothers in Alamata town.
Methods: A facility based cross sectional study was conducted from November 2023 to February 2024 in Alamata town, Ethiopia. Interviewer-administered and structured questionnaire was employed to collect data from sampled mothers. Factors associated with practice of exclusive breastfeeding were determined using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression model. Results: prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in the study area was 77.7% (95% CI, 72.4, and 81.0). The dependent variable (i.e. EBF) was found significant by few selected independent variables such as husband support (AOR=0.513; 95% CI =0.334, 0.789) Maternal health condition (AOR=1.748; 95% CI=1.149, 2.660) were significant predictors as well as mothers who received postnatal counseling during their visit to the health center were more likely to exclusively breastfeed than those who did not get counseling (AOR=1.973; 95% CI = 1.258, 3.093)
Conclusion: the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in the study area was relatively higher than the National prevalence. The independent variables, mother’s health condition, delivery of counselling on EBF during PNC visit and husband support were significant with EBF practices using bivariate and multivariate analysis among others.
As a recommendation exclusive breastfeeding counseling sessions during antenatal and postnatal visits need to be strengthen at the health center, the woreda office planners and health center practitioners should explore more to identify barriers to EBF
............. Thesis available at ACIPH Library |
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