Knowledge and Practice of Employed Mothers towards Exclusive Breastfeeding and Its Associated Factors in Mecha District, Northwest Ethiopia

Background. Exclusive breastfeeding is an important strategy for improving child health. However, the practice of exclusive breastfeeding among employees is very low in developing countries including Ethiopia. Objective. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice of employe...

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Main Authors: Amare Lisanu Mazengia, Hibru Demissie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/4820582
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author Amare Lisanu Mazengia
Hibru Demissie
author_facet Amare Lisanu Mazengia
Hibru Demissie
author_sort Amare Lisanu Mazengia
collection DOAJ
description Background. Exclusive breastfeeding is an important strategy for improving child health. However, the practice of exclusive breastfeeding among employees is very low in developing countries including Ethiopia. Objective. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice of employed mothers towards exclusive breastfeeding and its associated factors in Mecha district, Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia, 2019. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 05 to June 30, 2019. A stratified random sampling technique was applied. Data were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23 software. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine predictors of knowledge and practice. Result. A total of 449 participants were enrolled with a response rate of 95.54%. The study revealed that 92.1% (95% CI: (89.5–94.6)) of participants had good knowledge. However, only 38.5% (95% CI: (33.8–42.9)) employed mothers breastfeed their babies exclusively. Certain predictors such as maternity leave (AOR = 0.31, 95% CI:(0.10–0.91), p value = 0.03), mothers’ level of education (AOR = 2.97, 95% CI: (1.66–5.34), p value <0.001), support from husbands(AOR = 0.26, 95% CI (0.14–0.47), p value <0.001), and actual time to return back to their work(AOR = 0.21; 95% CI: (0.08–0.51), p value = 0.01) were statistically associated with exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusions and Recommendations. The knowledge and practice of employed mothers towards exclusive breastfeeding were affected by the number of predictors. Exclusive breastfeeding practice among employed mothers was low. It is advisable to give some flexible working hours for breastfeeding mothers.
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spelling doaj-art-8c836f6c2d764abbb7fcba86f16212f62025-02-03T06:45:52ZengWileyJournal of Nutrition and Metabolism2090-07242090-07322020-01-01202010.1155/2020/48205824820582Knowledge and Practice of Employed Mothers towards Exclusive Breastfeeding and Its Associated Factors in Mecha District, Northwest EthiopiaAmare Lisanu Mazengia0Hibru Demissie1College of Health Sciences, Salale University, Fiche, EthiopiaNutrition and EPI Officer, Mecha District Health Office, Mecha, EthiopiaBackground. Exclusive breastfeeding is an important strategy for improving child health. However, the practice of exclusive breastfeeding among employees is very low in developing countries including Ethiopia. Objective. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice of employed mothers towards exclusive breastfeeding and its associated factors in Mecha district, Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia, 2019. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 05 to June 30, 2019. A stratified random sampling technique was applied. Data were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23 software. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine predictors of knowledge and practice. Result. A total of 449 participants were enrolled with a response rate of 95.54%. The study revealed that 92.1% (95% CI: (89.5–94.6)) of participants had good knowledge. However, only 38.5% (95% CI: (33.8–42.9)) employed mothers breastfeed their babies exclusively. Certain predictors such as maternity leave (AOR = 0.31, 95% CI:(0.10–0.91), p value = 0.03), mothers’ level of education (AOR = 2.97, 95% CI: (1.66–5.34), p value <0.001), support from husbands(AOR = 0.26, 95% CI (0.14–0.47), p value <0.001), and actual time to return back to their work(AOR = 0.21; 95% CI: (0.08–0.51), p value = 0.01) were statistically associated with exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusions and Recommendations. The knowledge and practice of employed mothers towards exclusive breastfeeding were affected by the number of predictors. Exclusive breastfeeding practice among employed mothers was low. It is advisable to give some flexible working hours for breastfeeding mothers.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/4820582
spellingShingle Amare Lisanu Mazengia
Hibru Demissie
Knowledge and Practice of Employed Mothers towards Exclusive Breastfeeding and Its Associated Factors in Mecha District, Northwest Ethiopia
Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism
title Knowledge and Practice of Employed Mothers towards Exclusive Breastfeeding and Its Associated Factors in Mecha District, Northwest Ethiopia
title_full Knowledge and Practice of Employed Mothers towards Exclusive Breastfeeding and Its Associated Factors in Mecha District, Northwest Ethiopia
title_fullStr Knowledge and Practice of Employed Mothers towards Exclusive Breastfeeding and Its Associated Factors in Mecha District, Northwest Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Knowledge and Practice of Employed Mothers towards Exclusive Breastfeeding and Its Associated Factors in Mecha District, Northwest Ethiopia
title_short Knowledge and Practice of Employed Mothers towards Exclusive Breastfeeding and Its Associated Factors in Mecha District, Northwest Ethiopia
title_sort knowledge and practice of employed mothers towards exclusive breastfeeding and its associated factors in mecha district northwest ethiopia
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/4820582
work_keys_str_mv AT amarelisanumazengia knowledgeandpracticeofemployedmotherstowardsexclusivebreastfeedinganditsassociatedfactorsinmechadistrictnorthwestethiopia
AT hibrudemissie knowledgeandpracticeofemployedmotherstowardsexclusivebreastfeedinganditsassociatedfactorsinmechadistrictnorthwestethiopia