Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and identity socio-demographic and health service factors associated with the practice among mothers working in the informal sector in Indonesia.Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted using data from the 2022 Indonesian National Nutritional Status Survey, including 8,915 children aged 0-23 months.Exclusive breastfeeding was defined as the outcome variable.Maternal characteristics and health service utilization were examined as predictors using binary logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.Results: The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 40.3%.Mothers residing in rural areas had higher odds of exclusive breastfeeding than those in urban areas (AOR 1.463; 95% CI 1.439-1.488).Mothers aged 25-44 years and those who married were more likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding.Lower educational attainment was associated with higher odds, whereas lower household wealth was associated with reduced likelihood.Utilization of maternal health services, including antenatal care (AOR 1.308; 95% CI 1.277-1.340),early inititation of breastfeeding (AOR 1.731; 95% CI 1.705-1.757),and institutional delivery (AOR 1.117; 95% CI 1.092-1.142),was positively associated with exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusion:Exclusive breastfeeding among mothers working in the informal sector remains suboptimal in Indonesia.Strengthening access to maternal health services and addressing socioeconomic disparities, particularly in urban and low-income populations, are essential to improve breastfeeding outcomes.
Wisnuwardani et al. (Wed,) studied this question.