Effect of maternal employment on exclusive breastfeeding practice among mothers of infants 6-12 months old in Wolkite town, Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study.

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) means providing only breast milk for infants for up to six months without the addition of solid or liquid matter. Even though EBF had great benefits for infants and mothers, the rate of EBF is so limited below the global target. In Ethiopia, the overall EBF practice is 59%. This low EBF practice had a great unexplained variation among employed and unemployed mothers. Therefore, this study aimed to compare EBF practice and associated factors among employed and unemployed mothers of infants aged 6-12 months in Wolkite town, Southern Ethiopia, 2020. A community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2020. A total sample of 485 (241 employed and 244 unemployed) study subjects was involved in the study. A simple random sampling technique was used to recruit study subjects. A pre-tested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify associated factors of EBF practice for the whole study participants and then for employed and unemployed mothers independently. The pooled prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice was 63.9% [95% CI (59.8-68.2%)]. Exclusive breastfeeding practice was 54.8% [95% CI (48.5-61.4%)] and 73% [95% CI (66.8-78.7%)] among employed and unemployed mothers respectively. Three or more years of a birth interval [AOR = 4.03; 95% CI (1.80-8.99)], three or more ANC visits [AOR = 5.39; 95% CI (1.49-19.45)], and having PNC service [AOR = 4.56; 95% CI (2.0-9.4)] significantly associated to exclusive breastfeeding practice among employed mothers. No history of breastfeeding counseling during ANC visits [AOR = 0.15; 95% CI (0.06-0.41)], had history of breast disease [AOR = 0.28; 95% CI (0.08-0.99)], three or more ANC visits [AOR = 5.11; 95% CI (1.66-15.8)], and having social support [AOR = 3.05; 95% CI (1.23-7.6)] significantly associated to EBF practice among unemployed mothers. Employment among mothers was found to discourage EBF practice. The predictors of exclusive breastfeeding practice are different for employed and unemployed. Therefore Policymakers and program planners are called to come together and create a conducive environment for lactating employees, and appropriate intervention at respective predictor variables is needed to enhance EBF practice.

Zewdie A ，Taye T ，Kasahun AW ，Oumer A ... -  《BMC Womens Health》

Factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding practice among under-six months infants in Ethiopia.

World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first 6 months of life. EBF has sustainable long-term health benefits for both infants and mothers. Despite its benefits, the practice of EBF in Ethiopia is lower than the internationally recommended one. This study aimed at identifying factors influencing EBF practice among under-6 month infants in Ethiopia. This study used data drawn from the 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health Survey (2019 EMDHS) data. A multivariable logistic regression model was employed to investigate factors significantly associated with EBF practice among under-6 month infants in Ethiopia. An adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was used to measure the association of factors with EBF practice. A total of 566 infants under the age of 6 months were included in the study. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice was 83% (95% CI: 79.70-86%). Urban residences (AOR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.22-0.73), mothers having secondary education (AOR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.29-1.84) and higher education (AOR: 3.18, 95% CI: 0.68-15.02), mothers having ANC visits of 1 to 3 times (AOR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.24-1.88) and ANC visits of 4 and more times (AOR: 4.27, 95% CI: 1.06-17.25), family size of more than 5 (AOR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.26-0.88), caesarean births (AOR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.42-0.95), and deliveries at health facilities (AOR: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.12-5.63) were factors significantly associated with EBF practice among under-6 month infants. In this study, EBF practice among under-6 month infants was significantly associated with place of residence, maternal educational level, ANC visits, family size, mode of delivery, and place of delivery. Therefore, encouraging ANC visit and promotion of institutional (health facility) delivery are recommended. Furthermore, special attention has to be given to mothers with no or less education to make them better aware of the EBF and its benefits to enhance exclusive breastfeeding practice.

Mekebo GG ，Argawu AS ，Likassa HT ，Ayele W ，Wake SK ，Bedada D ，Hailu B ，Senbeto T ，Bedane K ，Lulu K ，Daraje S ，Lemesa R ，Aga G ，Alemayehu E ，Kefale B ，Bechera T ，Tadesse G ，Galdassa A ，Olani J ，Hemba G ，Teferi G ，Argaw A ，Irana T ，Tilahun T ，Diriba G ... -  《BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth》

Exclusive breastfeeding and maternal employment among mothers of infants from three to five months old in the Fafan zone, Somali regional state of Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study.

Tadesse F ，Alemayehu Y ，Shine S ，Asresahegn H ，Tadesse T ... -  《BMC PUBLIC HEALTH》

Level of exclusive breastfeeding and its enabling factors among lactating women who delivered in health facilities of Asosa town, Ethiopia: a cross sectional study.

Despite the enormous benefit of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) to mothers and infants, the practice of exclusive breastfeeding is globally low. In sub-Saharan Africa and Ethiopia, the prevalence of EBF stands at 35% and 59%, respectively. The low EBF practice in Ethiopia as well as in the studied region calls for further study and thus we studied the EBF practice in the study area since little is known about its current magnitude and factors influencing its practice for some programmatic improvements. A facility based cross-sectional study linked to a community was conducted from June-July 2019 among 412 mothers who had antenatal follow-up and delivered in health facilities of Asosa town over a period of one year prior to the study. Data on socio demographic characteristics and other important variables were collected through face to face interview while gestational age in weeks was recorded from their medical chart by trained health extension workers in accordance with relevant ethical guidelines and regulations. The collected data were then cleaned and entered into Epi-data software version 3.02. Analysis was done by SPSS version 20. Binary and multivariate logistic regression were performed to identify the contributing factors. P-value of less than 0.05 and 95% confidence interval was considered to determine statistical significance. Of the 412 respondents, the majority (88.1%) were multi-gravida and above. Slightly higher than a quarter (26.0%) and over half (55.4%) had neither received antenatal nor postnatal care. The proportion of mothers who exclusively breastfed their children was 76.0% and the overall aggregated good practice of EBF score was 64.1%. Mothers who completed primary school [AOR = 4.5; 95% CI = 1.1,18.2], had four or more ANC [AOR = 1.8;95CI = 0.79-0.98], and postnatal follow-up [AOR = 0.21;95% CI = 0.07-0.67], and had male infants [AOR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.0-4.95] were among the factors influencing the exclusive breastfeeding practice score. While three in four mothers exclusively breastfed their newborns and about two-thirds had good EBF score, the observed women's retention on the continuum of the maternal care pathway is low with one in four had no antenatal and over half had no postnatal care which are important derivers for EBF practice. To improve the EBF score and narrow the observed maternal and child health disparities, it is essential to promote maternal education and increase the recomended coverage of antenatal and postnatal care for mothers.

Kumera M ，Haidar J 《BMC Womens Health》

Exclusive breastfeeding and mothers' employment status in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study.

Chekol DA ，Biks GA ，Gelaw YA ，Melsew YA ... -  《International Breastfeeding Journal》