Prevalence and associated factors of non-exclusive breastfeeding of infants during the first six months in rural area of Sorro District, Southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Despite the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, a wide number of mothers practice non-exclusive breastfeeding in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to identify prevalence and factors associated with non-exclusive breastfeeding in rural area of Sorro District in Southern Ethiopia.

Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was undertaken. The study population consisted of all mothers with infants aged of 0-5 months living in the randomly selected kebeles (lowest administrative unit) in the rural area of Sorro District. The study was conducted on 602 mothers with infants selected by using systematic sampling method from 12 August to 23 August 2015. Both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to assess the association between the study variables and to control possible confounding.

Results: The prevalence of non-exclusive breastfeeding in infants under 6 months was 49.4 %. Being currently unmarried [AOR (95 % CI) = 3.85 (1.44, 10.27)], index infant's age being within 2-3 months [AOR (95 % CI) = 3.63 (2.06, 6.36)] and 4-5 months [AOR (95 % CI) =10.29 (5.60, 18.92)] compared to infant age 0-1 month, initiation of breastfeeding after 1 h of birth [AOR (95 % CI) = 2.11 (1.37, 3.24)], no antenatal care visit during their last pregnancy [AOR (95 % CI) =2.60 (1.64, 4.10)] and no postnatal care visit after delivery [AOR (95 % CI) = 1.90 (1.19, 3.04)] were significantly associated with non-exclusive breastfeeding.

Conclusion: In this study a large proportion of mothers with infants under 6 months of age were practicing non-exclusive breastfeeding which is one of the major risks for infant and child morbidity and mortality. Taking measures on identified associated factors with non-exclusive breastfeeding was recommended to improve the status of exclusive breastfeeding in the study area.