Prevalence, knowledge, attitudes and factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in Dhaka, Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Exclusive breastfeeding is balanced nutrition for growth and development of the infant, prevents stunting as well as protects from infectious and chronic diseases and has also potential to reduce infant mortality. Thus, the study aimed to assess maternal knowledge, attitudes and other factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding practices. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted among 385 mothers of children aged ≤12 months in Mother and Child Hospital in Dhaka city, Bangladesh, from June to December 2019 using a structured questionnaire. Data were collected by face-to-face interview from hospital’s outdoors, following simple random sampling process from hospital register list. Chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression models were used to explore the association. RESULTS The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 63.4% for mothers with children aged ≤12 months. Good knowledge (p<0.001) and positive attitude (p<0.01) on breastfeeding were significantly associated with exclusive breastfeeding practices. Housewife (AOR=5.84; 95% CI: 2.42−14.13), literate (AOR=7.16; 95% CI: 1.3−39.36), family monthly income ≥15000 BDT (AOR=5.41; 95% CI: 1.78−16.47), normal delivery (AOR=13.58; 95% CI: 5.29−35.48) and hospital delivery (AOR=3.38; 95% CI: 1.24−9.23) mothers were more likely to follow exclusive breastfeeding practices compared to their counterparts. Moreover, joint family (AOR=0.27; 95% CI: 0.12−0.62) and divorced (AOR=0.12; 95% CI: 0.03−0.58,) mothers had less likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding practices than their counterparts. CONCLUSIONS Good knowledge, positive attitude and some sociodemographic factors were significant with exclusive breastfeeding which are needed to improve for promoting exclusive breastfeeding practices and reducing infant mortality and morbidity.