Background Breastfeeding can offer the ideal food for infants. It contains all the necessary nutrients for the growthand development of infants and antibodies that can protect from many childhood illnesses. Understanding the extent of, and barriers to exclusive breastfeeding in Ethiopia is important for learning how to best improve level of exclusive breastfeeding. No single study has been conducted on first-time mothers in the country. . Therefore, this study aimed to assess prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice and associated factors among first-time mothers in Bahir Dar city, North West Ethiopia. Method A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April, 2016 among (n = 400) randomly selected first-time mothers in Bahir Dar city, northwest Ethiopia. Data were collected using structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version20., bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was used to measure the strength of association. Statistical significance was declared at P -value <0.05. Results Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice 24 h before the survey was 57.3% (95%CI: 52.3%–62%). Mothers not being married (aOR = 2.79, 95 %CI: 1.08, 7.17), supported by their husband (aOR = 4.15, 95%CI: 2.13, 6.28), with no breast complication (aOR = 3.66, 95% CI: 2.13, 6.28), who had four or more antenatal care (aOR = 2.51, 95%CI: 1.49, 4.23) were more likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusion A significant proportion of mothers had a low level of exclusive breastfeeding practice that was lower than the national recommended level. Mothers not being married, supported by their husbands, with no breast problems who had four or more antenatal care visits were more likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding. These results suggest that multi-sectorial and multi-disciplinary approaches are needed to increase exclusive breastfeeding in the first-time mothers.

BACKGROUND: Timely initiation of breastfeeding is one important intervention to prevent childhood morbidities and mortalities. Globally, not more than 35 and 39% in developing countries, 52% in Ethiopia and 38% in Amhara region were initiated with breastfeeding early. METHODS: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from 20 March to April, 2016. A total of 423 mothers who have infants less than 6 month old were included in this study. The data were collected using interviewer administered questionnaire. Binary logistic regression analysis were used to identify factors associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding. RESULTS: Prevalence of timely initiation of breastfeeding was 65%. Being male [AOR 2.148 (1.232, 3.745)], breastfeeding counseling [AOR 2.163 (1.187, 3.942)], place of delivery [AOR 8.639 (2.089, 5.720)], normal labor [AOR 4.094 (1.414, 8.728], and religious father support [AOR 1.962 (1.113, 3.458)] were determinants for timely initiation of breastfeeding. CONCLUSIONS: Timely initiation of breastfeeding in the study area was 65%. Sex of infant, breastfeeding counseling, birth place, mode of delivery, and religious father support were predictors of timely initiation of breastfeeding. Strengthening timely initiation of breastfeeding through provision of antenatal care services, educating mothers and strengthening health professionals knowledge, and skills on breastfeeding counseling were recommended.

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding means infants were fed only breast milk, not even water, one day (24 hrs.) before the survey was conducted. It is considered as core practice to achieve almost all 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, specifically sustainable development goal 2 which focuses in ending hunger and improving nutrition and goal 3 which focuses in reducing child and maternal mortality. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice and its associated factor among first time mothers in Bahir Dar city, North West Ethiopia.Method: A community based quantitative cross sectional study was carried out from March to April, 2016 among 423 first time mothers in Bahir Dar city. Study participants were selected by busing simple random sampling method i.e., lottery method. Data on infant feeding practice were collected by trained interviewers who used a structured questionnaire. Both binary and multivariable logistic regression were used to determine factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding. Statistical significance was declared at P -value <0.05.Results: Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice 24 hours before the survey was 57.3 %( 95%CL: 52.3%, 62%). Mothers not being married (AOR 2.787,95 %CI: 1.083, 7.171), were supported by their husband (AOR 3.658, 95%CI: 2.132, 6.278), with no breast complication (AOR 3.658, 95% CI: 2.132, 6.278), who had four or more antenatal care follow up (AOR 2.512, 95%CI: 1.494, 4.233) were more likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding. On the other hand, mothers who were living in nuclear family (AOR 0.48, 95%CI: 0.231, 1.001) were less likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusion: The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice in the study area was lower than the national recommended level. In this study maternal age, number of antenatal care visits, husband support, breast complication and type of family were predictors of exclusive breastfeeding. Involving partners during infant feeding counseling and education, creating awareness about breastfeeding, special attention for the first time mothers, and prenatal education for expectant parents were recommended to improve exclusive breastfeeding among first time mothers.

Background Breast milk is the ideal and complete form of nutrition for infants colostrum contains all the necessary nutrients for infants’ growth and development and antibodies that can protect from many childhood illnesses. Understanding the extent of and barriers to colostrum avoidance in Ethiopia is important for learning how to best improve optimal breastfeeding. No single study has been conducted on primigavida mothers in the country. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the rate of colostrum avoidance practice and associated factors among primigavida mothers. Method A community- based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April 2016 among (n = 398) randomly selected primigavida mothers in Bahir Dar city, northwest Ethiopia. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version25. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was used to measure the strength of association. Statistical significance was declared at P-value ≤0.05. Results Out of 398 primipara mothers, 8.8% discarded colostrum. The most common reasons for discarding colostrum were; yellow and creamy (39.2%), bad for infant (35.2%), traditional/cultural reason (17.1%) and infant unable to feed (8.5%). Married mothers (AOR = 4.52, 95%CI: 1.13, 18.16), unemployed mothers (AOR = 3.46, 95%CI: 1.15, 10.51), mothers underwent normal delivery (AOR = 5.20, 95%CI: 1.87, 20.90) and mothers who initiated breastfeeding within 1 h (AOR = 2.79, 95%CI: 0.96, 8.16) were less likely to discard colostrum. Conclusion The current study revealed that colostrum was discarded by 8.8% of primipara mothers. Primipara mothers who were married, unemployed, underwent normal delivery and initiated breastfeeding within 1 h were less likely to discard colostrum. These results suggest that multi-sectorial and multi-disciplinary approaches are needed to decrease colostrum avoidance among primipara mothers in Ethiopia.

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