Assessment of factors influencing the practice of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers with less than 2 years Children in Hodan district, Mogadishu, Somalia

Abstract

Background: Exclusive breast feeding is defined by World Health Organization (WHO) as giving breast milk alone for the first 6 months of life. World Health Organization recommends Mothers to breastfeed babies exclusively in the first six months. Breastfeeding and good nutrition for children are essential for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, particularly the goals relating to child survival. Breastfeeding is known to be the best way to feed infants by providing the psychological and health benefit to both the mother and the child. It is therefore considered physiologically, biochemically, immunologically and psychologically suited for this. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess factors influencing the practice of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers with less than 2years children in Hodan district, Mogadishu, Somalia. Methods Community based cross sectional study was carried out among mothers with less than 2years children in Hodan district, Mogadishu, Somalia, selected using cluster and simple random sampling technique. Data was collected by interviewer oral structured questionnaire and it was entered and analyzed by using SPSS for windows version 16.0. The proportion was used to describe the results and it was presented in the form of figures and tables. Findings: A total of 424 mothers with less than 2 years children were interviewed. The ever exclusive breastfeeding rate in this study was 23.3%. And 65.6% breast feed less than 6 months without adding other foods, and .I% feed for over 6 months. The timely initiation rate of breastfeeding within one hour found in this study was 49.3% respectively. Conclusion and Recommendation: Basing on the results of the study the socio-demographie factors studied in this study were not significantly affecting to the practice of exclusive breastfeeding except marital status and occupation of the mother. A range of characteristics affects the practice of timely initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding. Coordination, strengthening and sustaining of the existing strategies and approaches for further improvement of optimal breastfeeding practice is recommended