Prevalence of Early Breast Feeding Termination and Associated Factors among Mothers with Children Aged 2 to 3 Years in Dire Dawa City

Abstract

Background: Breast milk is the primary natural food for children. It has nutritional, immunological, social and psychological benefits. Stopping breastfeeding before two years of age has several adverse concerns to children. Despite some studies have indicated practice and duration of breast feeding in the first one year, prevalence of mothers ending the recommended duration of breast feeding and associated factors has not been observed in Dire Dawa city. Thus, this study aimed to fill this stated gap.

Methods: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted among mothers of children aged 2 to 3 years in Dire Dawa city from June 04 to July 08 in 2022. Two-stage sampling technique was employed. Association between early breastfeeding cessation and explanatory variables were analyzed using logistic regression model and degree of association was quantified by AOR with 95% CI.

Results: The prevalence of early breastfeeding termination was 44.8 % at (95% CI: 42%-48%). Mothers with 3rd birth order (AOR = 0.472; 95%CI: 0.311 0.715), gave birth in private facility (AOR = 0.376; 95% CI: 0.236 0.598), attended higher education (AOR = 0.403; 95% CI: 0.205-0.792), aged above 35 years (AOR = 0.400 95% CI: 0.240-0.667), had good breastfeeding knowledge (AOR = 0.229; 95% CI: 0.108- 0.483), husbands who support breastfeeding (AOR = 0.202; 95% CI: 0.130-0.312), were less likely to cease breastfeeding early than counterparts. However, mothers being employed (AOR = 1.784; 95% CI: 1.160-2.743), unmarried or separated from husbands (AOR = 1.631; 95% CI: 1.058-2.515) were less likely to cease breastfeeding early than counterparts.

Conclusion: Education, age, occupation of women, breastfeeding knowledge, birth order, delivery place, marital status, husband support of breastfeeding were significantly predictors of early breastfeeding termination. Hence, promotion programs of continuing breastfeeding should be focused among younger age, uneducated, low education, employed, unmarried women to reduce early breastfeeding termination.