Factors Associated with Exclusive Breastfeeding during the First Six Months among Mothers of Babies Aged 6 - 12 Months in Health Region 9 of Thailand

Abstract

Objectives of this cross-sectional study were to determine the situation and to explore associations between selected factors and exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months among 3,703 mothers with children ages 6 - 12 months resided in health region 9 (Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Buriram and Surin). The sample were selected using two-stage cluster sampling with probability proportional to size from all mothers with children ages between 0 - 12 months. The data were collected between October and November of 2014. The descriptive data were analyzed using frequencies, percent, means and standard deviations. The relationships between selected factors and exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months were analyzed using binary logistic regression. The results showed that 793 mothers, out of 3,703, exclusively breastfed during the first 6 months yielding a proportion of 21.4 percent. The logistic regres-sion analysis showed that mothers, who (1) received quality antenatal care (ANC), (2) were not a teenage pregnant mother, and (3) had higher number of children, were significantly and positively asso-ciated with the exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months at p<0.05. There was no association found between exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months and infant birthweight. The results from this study confirmed the importance on benefits of attending qualified antenatal care on exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months. It also showed that pregnant teenagers and teenage mothers were the important target groups in promoting successful exclusive breastfeeding.