Demographic and Personal Characteristics Associated with Exclusive Breastfeeding among Lactating Mother in Siaya County of Nyanza Province in Kenya

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 assess the role of demographic and personal characteristic associated with exclusive breast feeding as a way of checking the high mortality of under-5 children in Nyanza province. Methods: A multi-stage cluster sampling technique was used to select 3,200 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 demographic factors, marital status reported that polygamous had 33.0%. Single mothers reported 36.0%.On personal characteristics, the time taken to initiate breast milk to a baby had an association with exclusive breast feeding. Conclusion: Marital status, putting the child on breast milk has an association with exclusive breastfeeding.