Prevalence of Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices and associated factors among mothers in Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study

Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants [1]. As per the WHO recommendation, infants should receive exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health [2‐4]. Infants exclusively breastfed for 6 months, presented with fewer infectious episodes such as acute respiratory infection, acute otitis media, and gastroenteritis than their partially breastfed or non breastfed peers [5].

Malnutrition has been responsible, directly or indirectly, for 60% of the 10.9 million deaths annually among children under five worldwide. Over two-thirds of these deaths, which are often associated with inappropriate feeding practices, occur during the first year of life. Globally, no more than 35% of infants are exclusively breastfed during the first four months of life [1]. Global risk assessment of suboptimal breastfeeding indicates that 96% of all infant deaths in developing countries are attributable to inappropriate feeding occurring during the first six months of life [6].

In low income countries like Ethiopia, it has been estimated that practising EBF can reduce under five mortality by 13% [7]. To strengthen the effort in reducing child mortality, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health had targeted an increase in the proportion of exclusively breastfed infants under age 6 months to 70 percent by 2015 as one strategy to improve child health [8]. The 2011 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) showed the proportion of infants under six months who received EBF as 52% [9] which improved slightly (only 3%) compared to 2005 EDHS [10]. Therefore, assessing factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding is crucial to implement interventions that speed up the government efforts and decrease the rates and burden of infant morbidity and mortality.

A community based cross-sectional study was carried out from 10 to 25 June 2012 among mothers who delivered 12 months before the study began in the city of Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. Bahir Dar, the capital of Amhara Regional State, is located 565 km Northwest of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. In Bahir Dar, there are 9 kebeles – the smallest administrative unit. Based on the 2007 National population census, the city has a total of 180,094 (87,089 males and 93,005 females) population. Out of these, 39,800 were females in the reproductive age groups (15-49 years). In the city, the expected number of pregnancies in a year is 6,843 with the expected live births of 6,483. Number of households in the city are 37,519 [11].

To select study participants, a cluster sampling technique was used. Four kebeles were selected from 9 kebeles in the city using a simple random sampling technique. The sample size was determined by using a single population proportion formula considering the following assumptions: Proportion of EBF 49% taken from 2005 EDHS [10]; 95% level of confidence (Z = 1.96); 5% marginal error. The final sample size was adjusted using the design effect of 2% and 5% non-response rate. Thus, the sample size required was 809 participants, but with all participants in each cluster included, a final sample size of 819 was achieved.

Data on socio-demographic information, obstetric factors like parity, child and breastfeeding practice factors, maternal knowledge about breastfeeding were collected using a pre-tested and structured questionnaire. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews after training both data collectors and supervisors. Data were entered into Epi Info version 3.5.1 and exported to SPSS version 20.0 software package for analysis. The results were presented in the form of tables, figures and text using frequencies and summary statistics such as mean, standard deviation, and percentage to describe the study population in relation to relevant variables. The data were analyzed using logistic regression to determine the effect of various factors on the outcome variable and to control confounding. Most of the variables were fitted to the bivariate logistic regression. Then all variables having a p value ≤ 0.2 in the bivariate analysis were further entered into multivariate logistic regression model. In the multivariate analysis, standard enter techniques were fitted. Variables having p value ≤ 0.05 in the multivariate analysis were taken as significant predictors. Crude and adjusted odds ratios with their 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test was used to assess whether the necessary assumptions for the application of multiple logistic regression were fulfilled and p value > 0.05 was considered a good fit.

Exclusive breastfeeding was defined as giving the infant no other food or drink – not even water – except breast milk, but allowing the infant to receive oral rehydration salt, drops and syrups (vitamins, minerals and medicines). Early initiation of breastfeeding was also defined as the proportion of children who were put to the breast within one hour of birth [1]. Since we included infants less than 12 months, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was determined by using since birth dietary recall method. In this method, the participants were asked if any liquid or food item had been given to the infant, and if so, when that was done for the first time. This also allows to avoid overestimation in determining prevalence. The prevalence is based on women who had babies in each age group at the time of interview. The prevalence of EBF was calculated based on the respective age of the infants. But for infants of 6 months and above, for example, if the infant age was 7 months and the women practised EBF only for the first three months, we did not consider it as the infant received EBF. To say that the infant received EBF, he/she must have received EBF for the first six months for those aged six months or more.

Ethical clearance was obtained from institutional review board of College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar (Ref. No: MIDW/964/06/04). A formal letter of cooperation was written to Bahir Dar city health office and the respective kebeles. Voluntary verbal consent was obtained from each study participant.

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is identified as one of interventions to reduce infant morbidity and mortality. Exclusively breastfed children have a much lower risk of infectious diseases than infants who receive other foods [5].

In this study, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding appropriate to the infant’s age was found to be 50.3%. This finding was similar to the 2011 EDHS report (52%) [9], and a study conducted in Ghana (51.6%) [12], but less than the study done in the community assessment finding by Essential Service for Health in Ethiopia (ESHE) in Amhara (87%), Oromiya (79%) and Southern Nation, Nationalities and Peoples Region (66%) [13]. This might be due to the fact that the city of Bahir Dar is not an area of focus for ESHE -the nongovernmental organization that works with local health offices on EBF employed as one strategy to reduce child mortality. However, the findings of this study illustrated higher rates than that of a study conducted in five East and South East Asian Countries (pooled EBF proportion of 35.8%), Malaysia (43.1%) and Nigeria (16.4%) [14‐16]. Cross-cultural differences in breastfeeding practices may be part of the explanation.

When asked retrospectively, women with infants aged six months or more reported that only 45.3% had received EBF for six months. This finding was lower than studies done in Cambodia (51.3%), India (61.5%), Iran (56.4%), and Tanzania (58%) [17‐20] but higher than that of Canada (13.8%), Thailand (11%), Saudi Arabia (12.2%), Egypt (9.7%) and Kenya (2%) [21‐25]. Again cross–cultural differences in breastfeeding practices are likely. The other possible explanation for the variation in EBF practice found in different studies may be the different methods used for computing EBF. In this study we have used since birth dietary recall method which is not standard methods of computing EBF. Many studies such as Ghanaian study [12] showed a significant difference in determining EBF by 24-hour recall methods (a method of computing EBF by asking the respondents to recall what was offered to infants within the last 24 hours preceding the interview) and since birth dietary recall methods (70.2% versus 51.6%).

In this study child age, maternal occupation, prenatal EBF plan, place of delivery, mode of delivery and receiving counseling/advice on infant feeding were significantly and independently associated with the EBF practice in multiple logistic regression analysis.

This study revealed that child age was significantly associated with EBF practice. Infants in age group of 0-1 month and 2-3 months had an odds ratio of 3.8 and 2.8 respectively to receive EBF than whose ages were six months and above. This finding was consistent with the analysis of demographic health survey of Nigeria and Ethiopia [16, 26]. The possible explanations for this might be due to the fact that during this period there is a traditional postpartum rest that restricts women from working outside their home, which facilitates and creates favorable conditions for breastfeeding. Another explanation may be due to the short maternity leave in Ethiopia for government employers. There might be also short birth intervals that force the mother to discontinue EBF early.

In this study, housewives were more likely to practice EBF than any other occupations. This finding was consistent with the study done in Saudi Arabia [23], and similar to Canadian [21] and Malaysian [15] studies which showed a positive association between non-working mothers and EBF practice. This might be due to the fact that housewife mothers get to stay longer with their newborn so they may also breastfeed their newborn.

Prenatal EBF plan was also found to be one of the predictors of EBF practice. Mothers who had planned to provide EBF for their last child during pregnancy had an odds ratio of 3.8 to practise EBF compared to those who had not. This finding was in agreement with a study from Cambodia [17]. This might be attributable to planning, increased preparedness, and commitment to achieve EBF.

Place of delivery was one of the predictors of EBF practice. Mothers who delivered their last child at health facility were more likely to practise EBF compared to those who delivered at home. This result was consistent with other studies from Ghana, India, and Tanzania [12, 18, 20]. This might be due to the postpartum breastfeeding counseling and support provided at the health facility as part of discharge practices. In addition, mothers who gave birth vaginally were more likely to practise EBF than those who gave birth by caesarean section. This finding was consistent with a study from Canada [21].This might be due to the fact that caesarean section related pain and discomfort may prevent mothers from practising EBF.

Receiving infant feeding counseling/advice was also associated with EBF practice. Those mothers who received EBF counseling/advice were more likely to practise EBF than those who did not. Similar results were found by the study conducted in India [18]. This suggests that counseling/advice is effective in improving maternal knowledge and facilitates breastfeeding.

Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was low in the city of Bahir Dar. Being a housewife, a young infant age, having a prenatal EBF plan, delivering at a health institution, delivering vaginally and receiving counseling/advice on infant feeding were significantly associated with EBF practice. Strengthening infant feeding advice/counseling both at the community and institutional levels, promoting institutional delivery, providing adequate pain relief and early assistance for mothers who gave birth by caesarean section, and enabling every mother to have a prenatal EBF plan during antenatal care were recommended in order to increase the proportion of women practicing EBF.