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Back ground: Exclusive breast feeding for the first six months of life is recommended by the World Health Organization and United Nations International Emergency Children‟s fund. However, the prevalence of exclusive breast feeding is very low in many developing countries including Ethiopia. Breast milk is the one and only natural and complete nutrition for infants. Objectives: To assess prevalence of excusive breastfeeding practice and associated factors among children less than 6 months of age in Bahir Dar city Administration, North West Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A sample of 501 mothers participated in the study. Simple random sampling technique was employed in the selection of the participants with measurements of 24 hrs recoiling methods. Data were collected using pre-tested structured questionnaire through face to face interview. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were computed and variables having p value less than 0.05 in multi variable logistic regression were considered as significantly associated with the dependent variable. Result: Of 501 mothers‟ samples, 494 were included in the final analysis. The overall age appropriate rate of EBF practice was found to be 367(74.3%). Residence [AOR=0.13 (0.05,0.30)], sex of the child [AOR=0.534(0.336,0.850)], ANC service [AOR=2.41(1.32,4.41)]counseling about EBF at ANC [AOR=2.42(1.28,4.57), role of husband on EBF[AOR=3.05(1.59,5.83)], and caregivers heard about the benefits of EBF[AOR=4.1(1.07,15.8)] were found significantly associated with EBF. Conclusion: The prevalence of EBF for the age group 0-6 months in Bahir Dar city was higher than the National and regional prevalence. Residence, sex of the child, ANC services, counseling about EBF at ANC and husband support on EBF were factors which were positively associated with exclusive breastfeeding practice. Educating mothers with their husbands about the benefits of EBF was recommended. |
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