Factors promoting exclusive breastfeeding at a public health facility in Windhoek Namibia: A descriptive comparative study

Abstract

Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) refers to the practice of giving an infant breast milk only up to the age of six months, except for oral rehydration solutions or drops/syrups of vitamins, minerals or medicines. Globally and in Namibia, EBF rates remain well below the 70% World Health Organisation (WHO) target. Objective: This study aimed to investigate factors that promote EBF amongst mothers at a public health facility in Windhoek, Namibia. Methods and materials: A quantitative comparative descriptive design was used. Women aged 18 and above with infants aged 0 to 6 months attending a public health facility (n = 270) in Windhoek, Namibia, were selected using non-probability consecutive sampling. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic, economic, knowledge, psychosocial, biophysical and sociocultural factors. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: A large majority of participants practised EBF (87.8 %, n = 237). No significant socio-demographic, economic, knowledge, psychosocial or sociocultural predictors of EBF were identified. Having more than two pregnancies and more than two children were found to be statistically significant predictors of EBF (OR = 2.9, CI = 1.0 to 8.4, p = 0.05), (OR = 3.2, CI = 1.0 to 10.1, p = 0.05) Conclusion: EBF practice in this study is high, suggesting that mothers who access maternal healthcare services may be more likely to practice EBF. Primiparous mothers need increased support to promote EBF.

Keywords

• Exclusive breastfeeding
• Factors
• Infants
• Knowledge
• Mothers
• Namibia