A community based study on prevalence and determinants of exclusive breastfeeding practices in an urban slum area of asarwa, ahmedabad

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding(EBF) is important for child health and growth, but its practice is low in many developing countries. This study aimed to assess the exclusive breastfeeding practices and examining the socio-demographic characteristics that influence exclusive breastfeeding.
Objectives
1. To assess the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice among study population.
2. To know socio-demographic factors affecting the exclusive breast feeding practices.
Methodology: A Community based cross-sectional study was conducted among lactating mothers in urban slum, Asarwa, Ahmedabad. Simple random sampling technique was used. Data was collected by using pretested and semi-structured questionnaire through face-to-face interview of mothers.
Result: Out of 110 mothers interviewed, most of them were aged less than 25 years (52%).Most were having education up to secondary (34%) and belonged to the class IV (56.3%), majority were housewives (98.1%) and multiparous were 18.2%. Prevalence of Exclusive Breast feeding was found 74.5%. Around 58.2% of all mothers had started Breast feeding within one hour. Factors associated with practices regarding exclusive breast feeding included age of mothers, education of mothers, Type of family, Socio-economic class, Birth order, Birth weight and Gender of children. Out of them, age of mothers was statistically significant in our study.
Conclusion: Prevalence of Exclusive breastfeeding is higher than state level data from NFHS-5. Educational status and age of mothers strongly predicted maternal practice of EBF. There is need for promotion of EBF during the first six months of life and breastfeeding promotion programmes should give special attention to those women who are not practicing EBF.