Factors Associated with Early Initiation and Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices among Mothers of Infant’s Age Less Than 6 Months

Abstract

Globally, it is estimated that 60% of the infant and young child deaths occur due to inappropriate infant feeding practices and infectious disease. Inappropriate breastfeeding patterns are a major contributor of morbidity and mortality in young infants and children in Ethiopia, where about 70.0% infants are sub-optimally breastfed. Despite this there are limited studies related to factors contributing to it, in Ethiopia and specifically in Gurage zone. The aim of this study was to examine factors associated with Early Initiation of Breast feeding (EIBF) and Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) practices among mothers of infant’s age less than six months in Gurage zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia;