Fathers’ Involvement in Breast Feeding Practices and Associated Factors among Households having Children Less than Six Months in Southern Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Fathers have an important but often neglected role in the promotion of healthy breastfeeding practices. Evidences show that mothers who have a supportive and encouraging partner are more likely to plan to breastfeed and to breastfeed for a longer duration. Despite this benefit, breastfeeding promotion efforts have largely targeted mothers, and to a lesser extent, grandmothers, but fathers have often been often overlooked. Objective: To assess the involvement of fathers in breastfeeding practices and associated factors among households having less than six months children in Misha woreda, Southern Ethiopia. Method: A community based cross-sectional study involving both quantitative and qualitative approaches was conducted from March 1-30/ 2016. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with fathers’ involvement in breastfeeding practices. Strength of association was measured using adjusted odds ratio with 95% CI. Statistical significance was declared at p<0.05. Results: Fathers’ involvement in breastfeeding practices was 72.4%. Factors that were significantly associated with fathers involvement in breast feeding practices include educational status of fathers [AOR=4.113, 95%CI=(2.010, 8.414)], monogamy matrimonial status [AOR=8.473, 95%CI=(2.982, 24.079)], visiting health facility [AOR=5.864, 95% CI=(2.703, 12.644)], having wives with good perception about fathers involvement [AOR=5.616, 95% CI=(3.124, 10.099)] and having media information source at home [AOR=1.771, 95% CI=(1.036, 3.027)]. Conclusions: Fathers’ involvement in breastfeeding practices was good in Misha woreda. Predictors of fathers’ involvement in breastfeeding practices were educational status, monogamy matrimonial status, visiting health facility, having wives with good perception about their husbands’ involvement in breastfeeding practices and having media information source at home. Further longitudinal studies need to be undertaken to establish casual relationship between estimates.