Infant feeding practices and its associated factors among HIV positive mothers attending public health institutions at Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2019: An institutional based cross-sectional study

Abstract

IntroductionFour out of ten infants born become infected with the human immunodeficiency virus during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding in developing countries. Several factors are responsible for these, including practising mixed feeding that contributes to mother-to-child transmission and is unpreventable. Besides, it can cause diarrhoea, pneumonia and malnutrition, leading to morbidity and mortality. ObjectivesThis study aimed to assessinfant feeding practices and associated factors among human immunodeficiency virus-positive mothers attending public health institutions in Gondar Town. MethodsAn institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A census method was employed. Data were collected by using a structured questionnaire. The data were entered by Epi Info version 7 and analyzed with SPSS version 20. The data were analyzed by using binary logistic regression. Those variables with a P-value of ≤ 0.05 were considered significantly associated with infant feeding practice. ResultThe overall infant feeding practice was 94 % [95CI (91.4–96.3)]. Being in the age category of 18–24 years [AOR = 2.34,95 % CI(1.26–10.56)], rural residence [AOR = 8.08, 95 %CI (2.45–21.62)], having social support [AOR = 1.82, 95 %CI (1.43–6.55)], disclosing HIV status [AOR = 4.67, 95 %CI (1.67–20.88)], having no pregnancy-related problem [AOR = 2.61, 95 %CI(1.23–7.96)] were significantly associated. Conclusion and recommendationIn the current study, recommended infant feedingpracticeswereoptimal. Age, place of residence, social support, disclosure of HIV status, and absence of pregnancy-related problems during pregnancy were significantly associated with outcome variables. Mothers should follow recommended infant feeding practices andpayspecialattentiontourbandwellers.