Prevalence and determinants of exclusive breastfeeding; a cross sectional study in Najaf city, Iraq
Huda Ghazi Hameed1, Hawraa Shakir2, Abdulkareem Abdullah Mahmood1
1Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Kufa.
Insights
Exclusive breastfeeding rates in Najaf, Iraq, were found to be low, below World Health Organization recommendations. Factors such as family support and previous sibling feeding influenced infant feeding choices.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Maternal Health
Background:
- Exclusive breastfeeding is crucial for infant health.
- Understanding local prevalence and influencing factors is key for interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- Determine exclusive and continued breastfeeding prevalence in urban Iraq.
- Identify factors affecting infant feeding decisions.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study in Najaf, Iraq (Feb-Aug 2018).
- Included 373 children up to 2 years old from 12 primary healthcare centers.
- Data collected via questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS 20.
Main Results:
- Exclusive breastfeeding rate was 39.1% among infants under 6 months.
- Significant associations found with prior sibling feeding, prior hospitalization, family support, and husband's support.
- Child sickness in early life also showed a significant association.
Conclusions:
- Exclusive breastfeeding prevalence aligns with low- and middle-income country estimates.
- Rates remain below World Health Organization recommendations.
- Family and spousal support are important factors influencing breastfeeding practices.
Objectives:
To determine the prevalence of exclusive and continued breastfeeding in an urban setting, and the factors influencing the choice.
Methods:
The cross-sectional study was conducted from February 1 to August 30, 2018, in Najaf, Iraq, and comprised children aged up to 2 years from 12 randomly selected primary healthcare centres. Data were collected using a predesigned questionnaire that had three parts covering the mother, the child and the demographic variables. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.
Results:
Of the 373 subjects, 209(56.0%) were males. The overall mean age was 8.8± 6.2 months (range: 1-23 months), while the mean age of the mothers was 26.5±5.8 years (range: 15-46 years). Children aged <6 months were 169(45.3%), and, among them, exclusive breastfeeding was found in 66(39.1%) cases. There was significant relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and feeding of other siblings (p=0.001), admission to hospital (p=0.02), family support (p=0.009), husband's support (p=0.007). Child sickness in early life also had significant association with exclusive breastfeeding (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was found within the reported estimate for low- and middle-income countries, but much lower than the World Health Organisation recommendation.
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