Abstract:
Introduction: Ineffective breastfeeding technique is the leading cause of poor weight gain, stunting and decreasing Childs immunity and it exposed to different chronic and acute disease of the infant. Moreover, it cause also for nonexclusive breastfeeding practice and breast problem in Ethiopia. However, studies have limited on examining breastfeeding technique and associated factors in southern Ethiopia.
Objective: To assess ineffective breast feeding technique and associated factors among breast feeding mothers at public health facilities of South Ari district, Southern Ethiopia.
Methods: Facility based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 415 breast feeding mothers in public Health Facilities of South Ari district from February 30 /1/2019 to March 29/02/2019. All public health facility, (eight health centers and one hospital) were included in this study and systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. A Pretested and A structured interviewer administer questionnaire and observational checklist were used to collect the data. The collected data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package for Social Science version 22 for analysis. The result is presented by using frequency, proportions and summary statistics table. Statistically significant variables in the final model were declared with 95% CI, odds ratio and p-value less than 0.05.
Result: In this study, a total of 415 study participants were involved, makingresponse rate of 99.75 %. Overall magnitude of ineffective breast feeding technique were 63.5% 95% CI (59%, 68%) didn’t attend formal education (AOR 5.6; 95% CI 2.9, 10.9), home delivery (AOR 5.5; 95% CI 1.9, 15.7), having breast problems (AOR 2.8; 95% CI 1.3, 6.1), primiparity (AOR 1.8; 95% CI 1.1, 3.0).didn’t received counsling about BFT at PNC (AOR 2.6; 95% CI 1.3, 5.1), didn’t counseld about BFT during pregnancy (AOR 2.4; 95% CI 1.5, 3.8) were statistically associated with ineffective breast feeding technique.
Conclusion and Recommendation: This study revealed that nearly two third of women practiced ineffective breast feeding technique. Those who didn’t have formal Educational, having breast problem, didn’t counseld on breast feeding technique before and after delivery, primiparity and home delivered were associated with ineffective breast feeding technique. Therefore, much work is needed on advocate women’s education, create awareness about institution delivery and considering about breast feeding technique as a routine activities in antenatal care and post natal care follow up.
