Four in every ten infants in Northwest Ethiopia exposed to sub-optimal breastfeeding practice
Workineh Shume Hailu1, Mulat Tirfie Bayih2, Netsanet Fentahun Babble2
1Department of Midwifery, Mizan Aman Health Science College, Mizan Teferi, Ethiopia.
Insights
Sub-optimal breastfeeding is prevalent in Northwest Ethiopia, with 40.7% of mothers having low Breastfeeding Performance Index (BPI) scores. Factors like living alone, occupation, and poor knowledge negatively impact BPI, while antenatal and postnatal care visits improve it.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Maternal and Child Health
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Improper breastfeeding practices negatively impact infant and maternal health, development, and survival.
- The Breastfeeding Performance Index (BPI) measures maternal breastfeeding practices for infants under six months.
- Limited evidence exists on BPI and its associated factors in Ethiopia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the Breastfeeding Performance Index (BPI) in Sekela District, Northwest Ethiopia.
- To identify factors associated with breastfeeding performance among mothers in the region.
Main Methods:
- A community-based cross-sectional study involving 605 mothers with infants aged 6-12 months.
- Data collected via structured, interviewer-administered questionnaires.
- Multivariable logistic regression analysis used to determine predictors of BPI.
Main Results:
- 40.7% of mothers exhibited low BPI scores, indicating sub-optimal breastfeeding practices.
- Mothers living alone, merchants, and those with poor breastfeeding knowledge or negative attitudes had higher odds of low BPI.
- Attending antenatal care (ANC) visits and receiving postnatal care (PNC) were associated with lower odds of low BPI.
Conclusions:
- Sub-optimal breastfeeding practices are highly prevalent in Northwest Ethiopia.
- Maternal living situation, occupation, ANC/PNC attendance, and breastfeeding knowledge/attitude are key predictors of BPI.
- Interventions should address these factors to improve breastfeeding practices in the region.
Background:
Improper breastfeeding practices significantly impair the health, development, and survival of infants, children, and mothers. A Breastfeeding Performance Index (BPI) is a composite index to describe overall maternal breastfeeding practice with infants under six months of age. To date, there is insufficient evidence on breastfeeding performance index and its associated factors in Ethiopia.
Objective:
To assess the breastfeeding performance index and its associated factors in Sekela District, Northwest Ethiopia, 2019.
Methods:
A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 605 randomly selected mothers having infants aged 6 to 12 months from April 02, 2019 to May 13, 2019. Data was collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify independent predictors of BPI.
Results:
Two hundred forty-six (40.7%) of mothers had low BPI scores. Mothers who lived alone (AOR = 3.18; 95%CI: 1.15, 8.82), mothers who were merchants (AOR = 2.75; 95%CI:1.05, 7.15), attended three antenatal care (ANC) visits (AOR = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.20, 0.82), attended four antenatal care visits (AOR = 0.35; 95%CI: 0.12, 0.82), received postnatal care (PNC) (AOR = 0.35; 95%CI: 0.19, 0.64), had poor knowledge on breastfeeding (AOR = 3.19;95%CI: 1.14, 8.89) or negative attitudes towards breastfeeding (AOR = 2.70;95%CI: 1.13, 6.45), were independent predictors of low BPI scores.
Conclusions:
The prevalence of sub-optimal breastfeeding practice in northwest Ethiopia was very high. A mother living alone, maternal occupation, ANC visits, PNC, maternal breastfeeding knowledge, and attitude towards breastfeeding were independent predictors of low BPI scores. Nutrition promotion should be implemented by considering the above significant factors to decrease inappropriate breastfeeding practice in Northwest Ethiopia.
