Abstract
Promotion of proper breastfeeding practices for the first six months of life is the most cost-effective intervention for reducing childhood morbidity and mortality. The objective of the present study was to determine prevalence of EBF and understand the awareness of breast feeding practices among the women in Dodoma Municipality, central part of Tanzania. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Dodoma municipality, Tanzania in April to May 2011. Multiple sampling methods were applied in selection of a sample 200(women aged 15-42 years). A structured interview schedule was used to collect information of Mothers with infants aged 0 to 12 months on demographic characteristics, knowledge of EBF, and details regarding breast feeding practices since birth of their children to six months of life. The prevalence of EBF among women in Dodoma Municipality, Tanzania was 59%. Knowledge of EBF was relatively higher (89%) compared to the prevalence of EBF (59%). In total, majority(89%) of the women in study area had initiated breastfeeding in first one hour of delivery. Hospital deliveries (67.5%) higher than home deliveries in Dodoma municipality. Though exclusive breastfeeding prevalence rate found higher than at national level which was encouraging but not satisfactory according to world health organizations recommendations. Interventions and further research should address the low prevalence of exclusive breast feeding practices in study area.
Highlights
Promotion of proper breastfeeding practices for the first six months of life is the most cost-effective intervention for reducing childhood morbidity and mortality
Though exclusive breastfeeding prevalence rate found higher than at national level which was encouraging but not satisfactory according to world health organizations recommendations
Interventions and further research should address the low prevalence of exclusive breast feeding practices in study area
Summary
Promotion of proper breastfeeding practices for the first six months of life is the most cost-effective intervention for reducing childhood morbidity and mortality. The single most cost effective intervention to reduce infant morbidity and mortality in developing countries would be the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding. The estimated reduction of infant mortality by promoting exclusive breastfeeding is 13% [1]. Benefits of exclusive breastfeeding up to six months duration have been studied all over the world and there are enormous amount of evidence to support this [2]. In most countries a relatively small percentage of mothers practice optimal breast-feeding behaviors that reduce infants' risk of morbidity and mortality, including initiation of breast-feeding in the first hour after birth and exclusive breast-feeding for the first 6 months of life. There is a relaxation in definition and it allows prescribed medicines, immunizations, vitamins and minerals supplements [5]
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