Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice and its Associated Factors among Mothers with Children Aged 623 Months in Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia: A Communitybased Crosssectional Study

Background aim: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is an essential need for the development and survival of the neonates, particularly in lowincome countries. Therefore, the purpose of this survey was to determine the prevalence of EBF practice and its associated factors among mothers with children of 623 months in Dire Dawa Administration, eastern Ethiopia. Methods: This communitybased crosssectional survey was conducted on 704 participants in 15 kebeles in the Dire Dawa Administration using multistage sampling in 2018. The data were collected using a pretested intervieweradministered questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the factors associated with EBF. Results: The magnitude of EBF practice was 81.1% (95% CI: 78.083.8). In the multivariate logistic analysis, the odds of EBF practice were significantly higher among unemployed mothers (AOR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.173.20), antenatal care (ANC) users (AOR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.052.72), as well as the young mothers within the age ranges of 1525 (AOR: 4.41; 95% CI: 1.9010.20) and 2635 (AOR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.124.18) years. However, the subjects with bottlefeeding practice had lower odds (AOR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.350.87), compared to those reported with EBF practice. Conclusion: The magnitude of EBF practice was almost as high as the recommended level. The unemployment status, ANC visit, maternal age, and bottlefeeding practice were the factors associated with EBF. Therefore, employed mothers should be provided with a special room in their workplace to breastfeed their children, daycare facilities, and/or sixmonth maternity leave. Also, healthcare workers should give attention to the encouragement of mothers to receive ANC.