Predictors of Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice in Urban Kigali, Rwanda – A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Children face many health challenges during the early period of life and are prone to nutritional deficiency disorders and infectious diseases such as diarrhea and respiratory infections. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months-of-life is one way of fighting against them, but the factors influencing the duration of exclusive breastfeeding are not well known in Rwanda.
Our study aimed at evaluating predictors of exclusive breastfeeding in urban mothers.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in five health facilities (two tertiary and two district hospitals and one health center) located in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. Participants were mothers of infants aged 6-12 months recruited over two months between December 2018 and January 2019. Multivariate logistic regression was undertaken to determine factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding.
RESULTS: A total of 221 mothers were included and 56% of them reported exclusively breastfeeding their babies for the first six-months-of-life. Breastfeeding initiation within the first hour of life was at 80%. Employment, breast milk expression, single gestation, exclusive breastfeeding plan and breast milk supplementation were factors found to be significantly associated with exclusive breastfeeding.
CONCLUSION: Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months-of-life is suboptimal in Kigali. Support and education about breastfeeding of expectant parents and after delivery are essential. Further studies to determine suitable interventions for different environments like workplaces are warranted.