Knowledge Attitude And Practice Of Women Towards Exclusive Breastfeeding And Mixed Feeding In Gubalafto Woreda Amhara Regional State Ethiopia

BackgroundrnWorld health organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s fund (UNICEF) recommendsrnbreastfeeding children exclusively the first six months, and continuing breast-feeding along withrncomplementary foods up to 2 years or beyond is important. Despite the recommendations,rnnational exclusive breastfeeding prevalence in many countries remained very law which rangesrnfrom 30%-67% only.rnThis study was intended to provide relevant information for government and nongovernmentalrnorganizations’ (NGOs) officials on magnitudes and gaps on breastfeeding, exclusivernbreastfeeding in particular. This will help for appropriate and relevant interventions.rnObjectivernTo assess knowledge, attitude, and practices of mothers on exclusive breast-feeding and mixedrnfeeding and indicate areas of interventions for relevant stakeholders.rnMethodologyrnThis study was designed as an institution based cross-sectional study supplemented withrnqualitative method. A structured and semi structured questionnaires were used for quantitativernand qualitative data collection respectively.rnResultsrnProportion of women with good knowledge and good exclusive breastfeeding practice wasrn259(65.1%) and 311(78.1%) respectively. Prevalence of mixed feeding practice was 73(18.3%).rnIn the hierarchical analysis; their spouse being educated, maternal age >35 years, marriedrnmothers, being a housewife remained significant predictors of EBF knowledge. Mothers whornwere formally educated and being a housewife were significant predictors of good EBF practice.rnConclusions and RecommendationsrnEven though mothers who visit health clinics are expected to have better knowledge status, theirrnknowledge status regarding EBF recommendations remained very low. Their EBF practice levelrnwas still unsatisfactory. Their spouse being educated, mothers being married, being a housewifernand mothers’ illiteracy negatively affected their knowledge and practice status on EBF. Arniirnsupport from family, health care providers, health policy makers and health project implementersrnis imperative to improve appropriate breastfeeding practice among breastfeeding mothers.

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