Factors Influencing Exclusive Early Breast-Feeding Practices among Mothers in Uganda: Evidence from UDHS 2016

Abstract

The broader objective of this study was to investigate factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding practices among mothers in Uganda evidence was from UDHS data 2016. Specifically, the study determined the effects of mothers’ possession of breastfeeding knowledge, current marital status, education level, region of origin of mothers, type of place of residence of mothers, mothers’ age in 5-year groups and mothers’ belonging to a particular religion on exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in Uganda. The 2016 Uganda Demographic Healthy Survey (UDHS) secondary data was utilized in this study. The study results revealed that the majority of the mothers (73%) were found to be not currently breastfeeding, only 31.4% were married, majority (59%) of the interviewed women had stopped in primary school level and an overwhelming majority (77%) of the women reported to belong to the rural areas. The study further revealed that breastfeeding knowledge, current marital status of mothers, education that plays a key role in enlightening the mothers on the benefits of early breastfeeding to their children, region of origin, residence, Age of mother and also religion of mothers whose significance value (p = .000) was less than the usual threshold value of p = .05 strongly influenced exclusive breastfeeding practices among mothers in Uganda. Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers. Therefore, maintaining access to information on appropriate breastfeeding practices and promotion of exclusive breastfeeding especially among young mothers in Uganda is highly recommended.