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Prevalence and Associated Factors of Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices Among Mothers of Infants Less Than Six Months in Galkayo, Somalia: A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study

Received: 07 October 2018    Accepted: 19 October 2018    Published: 13 November 2018
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Abstract

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding has crucial importance on the lives of infants and young children. It provides all the energy and nutrients that infant needs for the first months of life. In sub-Saharan African countries including Somalia, the morbidity and mortality rates of infants and young children less than five years of age are high compared to developed countries. The main causes of these are mainly due to inadequate and sufficient EBF/BF practices with the combination of diseases like infant diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria and measles. Thus this study was aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of EBF in Somalia. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected from 384 mothers of infants less than 6 months of age residing in Northern side of Galkayo District using systematic sampling method. Cumulative Odds Ratio with 95% confidence interval was estimated using bivariate analysis with binary logistic regression model to identify independent determinants of exclusive breastfeeding practice. Results: Majority (99.7%) of the interviewed mothers had ever breastfed their baby. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 5.2% whereas 94.8% did not exclusively breastfeed their baby up to the intended six months. A mother with formal education was a predictor to exclusive breastfeeding practice. Having formal education, health facility delivery, receiving EBF counseling and maternal unemployment were found to be predictors of exclusive breastfeeding practice. Conclusion: The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was found to be very low compared to the WHO recommendations (5.2% in our study compared to 90% of WHO recommendations). However, our current study found that, majority (n= 221, 57.5%) of the women had knowledge on exclusive breastfeeding initiation. We recommend to strengthen the available basic services and to promote formal education on mothers in Somalia. We also recommend means to encourage mothers to deliver health facilities and to increase the awareness and counseling of EBF among pregnant mothers during their visit of ANC.

DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.20180605.13
Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 6, Issue 5, September 2018)
Page(s) 133-139
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Exclusive Breastfeeding, Determinants, Somalia

References
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[2] Jones, G., Steketee, R. W., Black, R. E., Bhutta, Z. A., & Morris, S. S. (2003). How many child deaths can we prevent this year? Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(03)13811-1.
[3] McFadden, A., & Toole, G. (2006). Exploring women’s views of breastfeeding: A focus group study within an area with high levels of socio-economic deprivation. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 2(3), 156–168. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8709.2006.00054.x.
[4] Ahmed, A. H. (2008). Breastfeeding preterm infants: an educational program to support mothers of preterm infants in Cairo, Egypt. Pediatric Nursing, 34(2), 125–130, 138. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18543837.
[5] Dieterich, C. M., Felice, J. P., O’Sullivan, E., & Rasmussen, K. M. (2013). Breastfeeding and Health Outcomes for the Mother-Infant Dyad. Pediatric Clinics of North America. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2012.09.010.
[6] World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infant-and-young-child-feeding.
[7] Black, R. E., Allen, L. H., Bhutta, Z. A., Caulfield, L. E., de Onis, M., Ezzati, M., … Child Undernutr, S. (2008). Maternal and child undernutrition: global and regional exposures and health consequences. Lancet, 371(9608), 243–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736 (07) 61690-0.
[8] Adam A. Mohamed, Abiodun O. Ilesanmi and M. David Dairo, The Experience of Women with Obstetric Fistula following Corrective Surgery: A Qualitative Study in Benadir and Mudug Regions, Somalia. Obstetrics and Gynecology International, Volume 2018, Article ID 5250843, 10 pages https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/5250843.
[9] Kamudoni, P., Maleta, K., Shi, Z., & Holmboe-Ottesen, G. (2007). Infant feeding practices in the first 6 months and associated factors in a rural and semiurban community in Mangochi District, Malawi. Journal of Human Lactation, 23(4), 325–332. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334407307567.
[10] Ajibade B L, Okunlade J O, Makinde o y, Amoo p o, A. m o. (2013). Factors Influencing the Practice of Exclusive Breast Feeding in Rural Communities of Osun State , Nigeria . European Journal of Business and Management, 5(15), 49–54.
[11] Lawoyin, T. O., Olawuyi, J. F., & Onadeko, M. O. (2001). Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in Ibadan, Nigeria. Journal of Human Lactation : Official Journal of International Lactation Consultant Association, 17(4), 321–325.
[12] DiGirolamo, A. M., Grummer-Strawn, L. M., & Fein, S. B. (2008). Effect of Maternity-Care Practices on Breastfeeding. Pediatrics, 122(Supplement 2), S43–S49. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2008-1315e.
[13] Central Statistical Agency [Ethiopia] and ICF International. (2016). FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA ETHIOPIA Demographic and Health Survey 2016 Key Indicators Report. Ethiopians Water Sector Development Program. Retrieved from https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/Ethiopia DHS 2016 KIR - Final 10-17-2016.pdf.
[14] UNICEF 2016 Somali infant and Young child nutrition Assessment https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/2016-Somali-IYCN-Assessment-Final-Report.pdf.
[15] Adelekan, D. A. (2003). Childhood nutrition and malnutrition in Nigeria. Nutrition, 19(2), 179–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0899-9007(02)01101-2.
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Author Information
  • Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Global Science University, Galkayo, Somalia; Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Global Science University, Galkayo, Somalia

  • Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Global Science University, Galkayo, Somalia; Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Global Science University, Galkayo, Somalia

  • Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Global Science University, Galkayo, Somalia; Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Global Science University, Galkayo, Somalia

  • Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Global Science University, Galkayo, Somalia

  • Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Global Science University, Galkayo, Somalia

  • Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Global Science University, Galkayo, Somalia

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    Adam Abdulkadir Mohamed, Said Aden Mohamud, Farhan Yahye Mohamud, Khadra Abdirahman Ali, Fadumo Ahmed Abdulle, et al. (2018). Prevalence and Associated Factors of Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices Among Mothers of Infants Less Than Six Months in Galkayo, Somalia: A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study. Science Journal of Public Health, 6(5), 133-139. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20180605.13

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    ACS Style

    Adam Abdulkadir Mohamed; Said Aden Mohamud; Farhan Yahye Mohamud; Khadra Abdirahman Ali; Fadumo Ahmed Abdulle, et al. Prevalence and Associated Factors of Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices Among Mothers of Infants Less Than Six Months in Galkayo, Somalia: A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study. Sci. J. Public Health 2018, 6(5), 133-139. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20180605.13

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    AMA Style

    Adam Abdulkadir Mohamed, Said Aden Mohamud, Farhan Yahye Mohamud, Khadra Abdirahman Ali, Fadumo Ahmed Abdulle, et al. Prevalence and Associated Factors of Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices Among Mothers of Infants Less Than Six Months in Galkayo, Somalia: A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study. Sci J Public Health. 2018;6(5):133-139. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20180605.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.20180605.13,
      author = {Adam Abdulkadir Mohamed and Said Aden Mohamud and Farhan Yahye Mohamud and Khadra Abdirahman Ali and Fadumo Ahmed Abdulle and Aisha Abdikarim Hussein},
      title = {Prevalence and Associated Factors of Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices Among Mothers of Infants Less Than Six Months in Galkayo, Somalia: A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study},
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {6},
      number = {5},
      pages = {133-139},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20180605.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20180605.13},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20180605.13},
      abstract = {Background: Exclusive breastfeeding has crucial importance on the lives of infants and young children. It provides all the energy and nutrients that infant needs for the first months of life. In sub-Saharan African countries including Somalia, the morbidity and mortality rates of infants and young children less than five years of age are high compared to developed countries. The main causes of these are mainly due to inadequate and sufficient EBF/BF practices with the combination of diseases like infant diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria and measles. Thus this study was aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of EBF in Somalia. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected from 384 mothers of infants less than 6 months of age residing in Northern side of Galkayo District using systematic sampling method. Cumulative Odds Ratio with 95% confidence interval was estimated using bivariate analysis with binary logistic regression model to identify independent determinants of exclusive breastfeeding practice. Results: Majority (99.7%) of the interviewed mothers had ever breastfed their baby. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 5.2% whereas 94.8% did not exclusively breastfeed their baby up to the intended six months. A mother with formal education was a predictor to exclusive breastfeeding practice. Having formal education, health facility delivery, receiving EBF counseling and maternal unemployment were found to be predictors of exclusive breastfeeding practice. Conclusion: The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was found to be very low compared to the WHO recommendations (5.2% in our study compared to 90% of WHO recommendations). However, our current study found that, majority (n= 221, 57.5%) of the women had knowledge on exclusive breastfeeding initiation. We recommend to strengthen the available basic services and to promote formal education on mothers in Somalia. We also recommend means to encourage mothers to deliver health facilities and to increase the awareness and counseling of EBF among pregnant mothers during their visit of ANC.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Prevalence and Associated Factors of Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices Among Mothers of Infants Less Than Six Months in Galkayo, Somalia: A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study
    AU  - Adam Abdulkadir Mohamed
    AU  - Said Aden Mohamud
    AU  - Farhan Yahye Mohamud
    AU  - Khadra Abdirahman Ali
    AU  - Fadumo Ahmed Abdulle
    AU  - Aisha Abdikarim Hussein
    Y1  - 2018/11/13
    PY  - 2018
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20180605.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20180605.13
    T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
    SP  - 133
    EP  - 139
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7950
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20180605.13
    AB  - Background: Exclusive breastfeeding has crucial importance on the lives of infants and young children. It provides all the energy and nutrients that infant needs for the first months of life. In sub-Saharan African countries including Somalia, the morbidity and mortality rates of infants and young children less than five years of age are high compared to developed countries. The main causes of these are mainly due to inadequate and sufficient EBF/BF practices with the combination of diseases like infant diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria and measles. Thus this study was aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of EBF in Somalia. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected from 384 mothers of infants less than 6 months of age residing in Northern side of Galkayo District using systematic sampling method. Cumulative Odds Ratio with 95% confidence interval was estimated using bivariate analysis with binary logistic regression model to identify independent determinants of exclusive breastfeeding practice. Results: Majority (99.7%) of the interviewed mothers had ever breastfed their baby. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 5.2% whereas 94.8% did not exclusively breastfeed their baby up to the intended six months. A mother with formal education was a predictor to exclusive breastfeeding practice. Having formal education, health facility delivery, receiving EBF counseling and maternal unemployment were found to be predictors of exclusive breastfeeding practice. Conclusion: The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was found to be very low compared to the WHO recommendations (5.2% in our study compared to 90% of WHO recommendations). However, our current study found that, majority (n= 221, 57.5%) of the women had knowledge on exclusive breastfeeding initiation. We recommend to strengthen the available basic services and to promote formal education on mothers in Somalia. We also recommend means to encourage mothers to deliver health facilities and to increase the awareness and counseling of EBF among pregnant mothers during their visit of ANC.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

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