Infant Feeding Practice and Associated Factors among HIV Positive Mothers Enrolled in Governmental Health Facilities in Mekelle Town, Tigray Region, North Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: The transmission of HIV through breastfeeding has created a dilemma for public health programs and for mothers and families affected by the disease. The benefits of breastfeeding for mother and infant have been well documented. The increased risks of infant morbidity and mortality associated with artificial feeding in resource poor settings are also well known. Although World Health Organization global public health recommendation for Mothers known to be HIV-infected should exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first 6 months of life, introducing appropriate complementary foods thereafter, and continue breastfeeding for the first 12 months of life. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess Infant feeding practice and associated factors on HIV positive mothers. Method: Institutional based cross sectional study was conducted in governmental health facilities Result: A total of 207 HIV positive mothers participated in the study making the response rate of 100%. Of all respondent, More than 90% of HEIs were exclusively breastfed; 6.3% were mixed fed’ and 3.4% were exclusively replacement fed.In multivariate analysis, attitude of infant feeding option and those who receive education & counselling on infant feeding option during pregnancy in ANC were found to be independently associated (p-value of < 0.05) with Exclusive breast feeding ways of infant feeding practice. Conclusion and recommendation: Exclusive breast feeding was the leading proportion of feeding practice and exclusive replacement feeding was small proportion. This could be an advised way of infant feeding practice by World Health Organization and Ethiopia Minister of Health.Finally it is recommended that all HIV positive mothers should be provided with adequate information to enable them to select the best feeding option for their babies and to successfully carry out their infant feeding decisions.