Assessment of Association between Soci-economic Status and Breast Feeding Practices among Lactating Mothers in Siaya County

Abstract

Introduction: This was a nested study in which 2011 data from a baseline study conducted by Great Lakes University of Kisumu, supported with funds from UNICEF Kenya. Findings was analyzed and used to describe practices of exclusive breastfeeding among lactating mothers with children under-5 years of age in Nyanza province. Methods: A multi-stage cluster sampling technique was used to select 2,805 households. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the coverage of exclusive breastfeeding practice. Frequencies were run using SPSS and Chi -square test was used to determine the association. Findings: The practice of exclusive breastfeeding in Siaya County is found at 29.9%; with unemployed mothers presenting at 36.1%, while working class mothers performed poorly at 21.4%.On the level of education:-respondents on none level of education reported the highest at 46.2%, while post Secondary level reported the lowest at 26.1%.All had a p-value 0.008 significant at the 5% level. This could be due to connection that education has with employment. Conclusion: Source of income and level of education has an association with exclusive breastfeeding. Recommendation. Need for further research to find out why uneducated mothers breastfeed more than educated mothers.