Background: Health care workers are important in the promotion, protection andrnsupport of breast feeding. Their ability to do this may be influenced by their knowledge,rnpersonal experiences and work. This study was to examine challenge of exclusive breastrnfeeding among female nurses and mid-wives in government and private hospitals, AddisrnAbaba city.rnObjective: The main objective is to identify challenges for exclusive breast feeding amongrnfemale nurses and mid-wives in selected government and private hospitals, Addis Ababa.rnMethodology: A hospital based cross-sectional study design used on a sample of 349rnfemale nurses and mid-wives from April 13-May 11, 2015. Descriptive statistics andrnBivariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed for possible association amongrnvariables. Odds ratios with 95% confidence interval were computed to determine the level ofrnsignificance.rnResults: Exclusive breastfeeding among participant was found to be 23.5% being mid-wifern(AOR=3.48 95% CI (1.22, 9.89), a women who gave birth through vaginal deliveryrnAOR=0.289, 95%, CI (.09, 0.84) and resumption of work after 3 month (AOR=8.98 95% CIrn(4.00, 20.73) were independents associated with exclusive breastfeeding.rnConclusion and recommendation: Though respondents had adequate knowledge onrnbreast feeding, the practice of exclusive breastfeeding was low. Maternal profession, mode ofrndelivery, the time before resuming work were factors associated with exclusive breastrnfeeding. Appropriate education concerning breastfeeding, organizational support, directed atrnnurses and midwives is required to enhance EBF and duration of breastfeeding.rnKeywords: Exclusive breastfeeding, nurse and midwives, in Addis Ababa city