Exclusive Breastfeeding and Associated Factors Among Mothers with Infants Aged 6-15 Months at Selected Health Facilities in Musanze District, Rwanda
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t5398Abstract
Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months is essential for optimal infant nutrition and emotional development. Despite this, Rwanda’s EBF rates-81% among infants under six months and 68% among those aged four to five months-remain below UNICEF’s 100% recommendation. This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of EBF, maternal knowledge, and associated factors among mothers attending selected health centres in Musanze District, an area with high under-five stunting despite food sufficiency. A total of 260 mothers with infants aged 6–15 months were randomly selected from Muhoza, Kimonyi, and Nyakinama Health Centres between May 19 and June 18, 2023. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering socio-demographic characteristics, perinatal factors, and EBF practices. Analysis was performed using STATA 15, employing chi-square tests and logistic regression to identify factors associated with six-month EBF. Most participants were aged 25–34 years (52.7%), lived in urban areas (58.1%), and were stay-at-home mothers (75.4%). The study found that 79% of mothers exclusively breastfed for six months. Knowledge of EBF was generally high, with 94.6% having heard of EBF and 84% demonstrating good knowledge-particularly regarding its benefits (98.5%) and recommended duration (89.2%). Several factors were significantly associated with EBF practice. Mothers without breastfeeding-related health problems were 4.3 times more likely to practice EBF than those with such issues. EBF was also protective against gastrointestinal infections in infants. Additionally, valuing maternal support-especially a mother’s opinion-increased the likelihood of practicing EBF by 2.5 times. Knowledge level alone, however, was not a significant predictor. Overall, although knowledge of EBF is high, the practice remains below optimal levels. The study concludes that exclusive breastfeeding is widely practiced in Musanze District, supported by strong maternal awareness of its importance and recommended duration. The study concludes that maternal health, infant well-being, and support from close family members remain central influences that determine whether mothers sustain exclusive breastfeeding for the full six months. The study recommends that health authorities and health facilities should strengthen early breastfeeding counselling, address maternal breastfeeding challenges promptly, and reinforce community education throughout the pre- and post-natal periods. The study recommends that families and community members should offer consistent support to breastfeeding mothers, while future programs should integrate influential family figures such as grandmothers to improve adherence to exclusive breastfeeding.
Keywords: Breastfeeding, Mothers, Infants Aged 6-15 Months, Health Facilities, Musanze District
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