ABSTRACT:
Breastfeeding is regarded as the cornerstone of infant feeding, as it is the optimal choice for optimal nutrition and development. Socio-structural factors of breastfeeding in child health play an important role in guiding women’s decisions on options to feed their babies. A cross-sectional study was conducted among mothers of infants aged 0–6 months to assess the role of socio-structural factors in shaping feeding intentions and practices. Informed consent was obtained from participants prior to data collection. Data were gathered using a validated questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS. A total of 181 mothers were enrolled. Only 45.9% reported that they exclusively breastfed their babies, of which the highest proportion of exclusive breastfeeding was observed among the 21–29 age group at 51.8%, and the lowest among those aged 20 years and below (3.6%). Marital status (p = 0.005) and employment status (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with exclusive breastfeeding, with higher EBF rates among married mothers and among self-employed mothers. Both the EBF mothers and non-EBF mothers shared a common belief that colostrum was not beneficial for infants (p = 0.854), whereas their views differed significantly on the amount of water given to infants before they reached six months (p = 0.001). There was no significant relationship between EBF status and having a family member who had breastfed in the past 6 months (p = 0.815); similarly, a weak association was observed for having a friend who had breastfed recently (p = 0.057). The difference in EBF practice between those receiving antenatal care breastfeeding education and those not receiving it was not statistically significant (p = 0.591). A statistically significant association was found between the support level and exclusive breastfeeding status (p < 0.001). This study highlights that successful exclusive breastfeeding is strongly associated with high levels of social support.