BARRIERS TO EXCLUSIVE BREAST-FEEDING AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF EXCLUSIVELY AND NON-EXCLUSIVELY BREASTFED INFANTS IN TERKIDI REFUGEE CAMP, GAMBELLA, WESTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This research thesis intended to assess the barriers or factors affecting effective practices of exclusive breast-feeding and nutritional status of infants 0-6months who were exclusively breast feed and not, at Terkidi refugee camp, Gambella region, Western Ethiopia. This research employed a mixed cross sectional study design of both quantitative and more of qualitative methods. Totally, 250 lactating mothers who are users of nutrition program services, with infants’ 0-6months were selected through simple random sampling, assisted by systematic random sampling selecting mothers at an equal interval of kth term. The data collection tools were semi-structured interview questionnaires, focus group discussions guides, and direct observation, documentary analysis, interview guides whereas data analysis done using SPSS IBM 20 version software, ENA software, different statistical tools tests like chi square test, percentage, frequency, Odd ratio (OR), linear and logistic regressions, were used to assess its significance at P<=0.05. It was found that the factors influencing EBF were maternal age, intension to breast feed, the income status and type of income source, lack of previous experience in EBF, level of knowledge in EBF, and key message, type of household, and family size, family support, institutional at facility& community level support group, cultural belief by mothers, easy availability of animal milk, and infant morbidity and maternal breast complication. It was found that the rate infant under nutrition: acute malnutrition 24.4%, underweight 17.2%, stunting 12.8%. The mother’s knowledge of EBF was 93.9%, attitude 89%, practice 77.6% respectively. The recommendation was that the mothers had good awareness on EBF, positive attitude but low practice of EBF due to many factors and high undernuttion rate that require a coordinated intervention among stakeholders.