Abstract
Background: Breastfeeding is cost effective means towards the realization of some key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by the year 2030 particularly in resource limited settings. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the predictors of exclusive breastfeeding duration among mother and child pairs utilizing a tertiary immunization clinic facility. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Respondents were mother-and-child pairs who were recruited consecutively. Relevant maternal and child characteristics were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0 (p < 0.05). Results: Four hundred and twenty seven mother-child pairs were studied. Majority of the mothers have at least secondary education, 383 (80.7%). 407 (95.3%) of the mothers fully understood the actual meaning of EBF. 189 (42.7%) reported practicing EBF in their index child for six months. Maternal perception of insufficient milk production, 52/99 (52.5%) was the most common reason for practicing EBF for <6 months among respondents. Maternal education and occupation and gender of the child were significantly associated with completion of EBF for 6 months among respondents. Conclusion: EBF duration in the current study is low and is significantly associated with maternal education, maternal occupation and gender of the child. Improving girl child education, complementing baby friendly hospital initiative with baby friendly community initiative should be adopted to improve EBF duration in our setting.
Highlights
The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) global recommendations on breastfeeding are hinged on exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding for two years or more in children [1].Optimal breastfeeding up to two years following the AMLET guidelines has the greatest potential/impact in child survival of all preventative interventions with the likelihood to prevent well over 800,000 deaths (13 percent of all deaths) in children under five in developing countries [1] [2] [3].Sub-optimal breastfeeding within the first six months of life results in 1.4 million deaths and ten percent of diseases in children under five years of age
Maternal education and occupation and gender of the child were significantly associated with completion of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for 6 months among respondents
The objectives of the study were to evaluate the determinants of exclusive breastfeeding duration among mother-and-child pairs utilizing a tertiary immunization clinic facility in Enugu, Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at the Immunization Clinic of the Institute of Child Health (ICH), of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu in 2016
Summary
Sub-optimal breastfeeding within the first six months of life results in 1.4 million deaths and ten percent of diseases in children under five years of age. EBF enables children to survive generally, supporting brain development, improving cognitive performance and has been associated with higher educational achievements at age five [1]. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the predictors of exclusive breastfeeding duration among mother and child pairs utilizing a tertiary immunization clinic facility. Maternal education and occupation and gender of the child were significantly associated with completion of EBF for 6 months among respondents. Conclusion: EBF duration in the current study is low and is significantly associated with maternal education, maternal occupation and gender of the child. Improving girl child education, complementing baby friendly hospital initiative with baby friendly community initiative should be adopted to improve EBF duration in our setting
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
