An Investigation into the Factors Influencing Exclusive Breastfeeding among the Working Class Mothers in Ede North Local Government Area of Osun State

Abstract

Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) which is defined as giving the infant no other food or drink apart from breast milk for the first six months of an infant's life is a beneficial intervention in saving children's lives. So many factors have been reported in previous studies in other parts of the country to affect EBF practices, however, not many studies conducted in this part of the country have explored these factors that may influence such practices. Hence, this study was conducted to explored factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding among working class mothers in Ede North local government area of Osun State. Using a cross-sectional study, a multistage sampling technique was used to select 200 consenting working class mothers from Ede north local government area of Osun State. A pretested interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on respondent’s personal characteristics, practice of EBF and antecedent factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding. A total of six questions were used to assess mothers practice of EBF, respondents with at least a wrong response to any of the questions were considered as those not practicing EBF. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and logistic regression with level of significance set at 0.05. Respondents were females with mean age of 39.3±1.4. Most (87.0%) were from the Yoruba tribe and 63.5% are Christians. Tertiary education was the highest level of education attained by 53.5% of them. About 28.0% of them are health workers with working experience > 15 years (15.0%). About 16.0% of them practice EBF. Significantly high proportions of those that are > 40 years (34.4%), Muslims (42.5%), non-formally educated (100.0%), with > 3 male children (50.0%), with > 3 female children (54.4%) and working experience >15 years (100.0) practice EBF. The main significant predictor of EBF was religion (OR= 93, 95% CI= 12.316 – 702.266). Exclusive breastfeeding was common among working class mothers that are Muslim, older, non formally educated with more than three children and work experience greater than fifteen years. Hence, there is a need for implementation of more programmes on EBF targeting young-educated women and organization of these programmes right in the church or mosque so as to change women view of EBF. Also, there is a need for promotion of exclusive breastfeeding through creating an enabling breastfeeding-friendly working environment for working mothers.