Prevalence of Exclusive Breast Feeding and its Predictors Among Infants Aged Six Months in Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia, 2013

Background: Breastfeeding is an important public health strategy for improving child and maternal health conditions. However, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding is very low in many low-income countries including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and associated factors among infants aged six months in Jimma town, Southwest Ethiopia. Materials and methods: An institutional based cross-sectional study conducted with qualitative inquiry from January to February 2013. Quantitative data were collected from 422 mother infant-pairs attending health institutions in Jimma town using a pretested structured questionnaire. The qualitative data were generated through focus group discussions among purposely selected discussants. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was estimated using multivariable logistic regression to identify independent predictors of exclusive breastfeeding while thematic framework analysis was employed for the qualitative data. Results: The majority (96.6%) (95% CI: 0.86-0.97) of the mothers have ever breastfed their infants. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 67.2% (95% CI: 0.83-1.03), 24.3% (95% CI: 0.71-0.86) and 8.4% (95% CI: 0.13-0.34) at the age of ? 2, 3-4 and > 4 months respectively with a mean duration of 3.2 months. Having good knowledge on breastfeeding {AOR: 2.1 (95% C.I: 1.54 - 4.33)}, age of infants ? 2months {AOR: 2.1 (95% CI: 1.67- 3.31)}, lower parity (?1) {AOR: 3 (95% C.I: (2.2- 6.08)}, and having antenatal care visit {AOR: 1.2 (95% C.I (1.06-4.08)} were independent predictors of exclusive breastfeeding practice. Conclusion: The prevalence decreases dramatically as the age of the infants’ increases. Being younger age, positive perception on the adequateness of breast milk, having one child and attending antenatal clinics during pregnancy was predictors of exclusive breastfeeding in this study. Hence, providing behavioral change communications using multiple channels including mass media and antenatal counseling is recommended to promote exclusive breastfeeding practices in the studied community.