Policy to increase exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia: a secondary analysis to identify priority promotion groups

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is critical during the early stages of life. Babies require only breast milk from birth until 6 months of age. This study analyzed the correct target for increasing EBF in Indonesia.

This cross-sectional study included 12,534 infants and examined EBF practices as outcome variables. Seven maternal characteristics were included as exposure variables (residence, age, marital status, education, employment, prenatal class, and wealth) and four infant characteristics as control variables (age, sex, birth weight, and early initiation of breastfeeding). Finally, binary logistic regression analysis was performed.

Result showed that the proportion of EBF in Indonesia is 52.90% (95% confidence interval [CI], 52.37%-53.43%). Mothers in rural areas were 1.134 times more likely to perform EBF than were those in urban areas (95% CI, 1.126-1.141). All maternal age groups were more likely to achieve EBF than the youngest group (<20 years), except for those aged >44 years, for which there was no significant difference compared with those aged <20 years. Married mothers were 1.361 times more likely to achieve EBF than were divorced/widowed mothers (95% CI, 1.311-1.412). Maternal education and employment were associated with EBF achievement. There was no significant relationship between the prenatal class and EBF performance in Indonesia. Furthermore, results indicate that all wealth statuses are less likely to achieve EBF than the poorest in Indonesia.

Six maternal characteristics were specifically targeted to increase EBF in Indonesia: living in urban areas, being young, having a divorced/widowed status, having poor education, being employed, and being wealthy.