Practice of exclusive breastfeeding and its factors among job holder mothers of Lalitpur metropolitan city

Abstract

Introduction: According to WHO, first six months of a child should be fed only breast milk which is crucial for an optimal growth. During this period, an infant should not be given any type of solid, semi solid or liquid food except breast milk. It is considered to protect an infant from several chronic diseases and prevents 10% of the child death in further life. Thus, the objective of the study is to assess the practice of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and its associating factors among the job holder mothers of Lalitpur metropolitan city.
Methods: The study was done on job holder mother working in Lalitpur metropolitan city. Cross sectional study was done through clustered sampling technique. The total number of the sample was 165. A structured questionnaire was used as the tool. The confidentiality of the respondents were maintained and required ethical consideration was taken. Analysis of data was done by using descriptive statistics and chi- square test was used for association between knowledge and practice about EBF among the job holder mothers.
Results: About 53.3% of the respondent had good knowledge about EBF whereas 52.8% had overall good practice of EBF. Also around 37.6 % expressed milk feeding, only 20% of the respondent succeeded to breastfeedingfor at least 6 months which is the major requirement of EBF and there was no association between knowledge and practice about EBF among the job holder mothers.
Conclusions: There was no association of the knowledge and practice. Even though the study found overall good knowledge and practice among the job holderdespite of good practice the prevalence of EBF is still poor among the job holder mothers.