Abstract:

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is a simple and cost-effective intervention to improve child health and survival. Effective EBF has been estimated to avert 13% - 15% of under-five mortality and contribute to reduce mother to child transmission of HIV. The prevalence of EBF for infant less than six months in low in most developing countries, including Tanzania (50%). While the Tanzania Demographic Health Survey collects information on overall EBF prevalence, it does not evaluate factors influencing EBF. The aim of this paper was to determine the prevalence and predictors of exclusive breastfeeding at Makongoro health centre.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2019 to October 2019 among women with infants aged 6-24 months attending RCH clinic at Makongoro health centre. Descriptive cross sectional study was used enrolled 253 mother who meet inclusion criteria. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic, breastfeeding patterns and nutritional data during the interviews. Estimation on EBF was based on recall since birth. Multivariable logistic regression was used to obtain independent predictors of EBF.

Results: A total of 253 women participated, out of this 253 mothers, 138(55.5%) their babies, age range from six month one year and 115(45.5%) their babies’ age range from one year to two years. Out of all interviewed mothers 41(16.2%) mothers have age of less than twenty years, 185(73.1%) have an age ranging from twenty to thirty five years, and the remaining 27(10.7%) have an age of greater than thirty five years. Of all mothers 8(3.2%) have no formal education, 14(55.7%) have primary education, 83(32.8%) have secondary education, 14(5.5%) attain college level, only 7(2.8%) attain university level. Out of all interviewed mothers 175(69.2%) they were able to breastfeed their kids up to six month without giving them other food and the remaining 78(30.8%) they started giving their kids food in either within a first, second, third, fourth or fifth months.

Conclusion: Prevalence of EBF up to six months is 69.1% in Makongoro health centre, which is higher than that of national coverage of 50%. This is facilitated by good antenatal attendance and good breastfeeding education during antenatal visits.