Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access

Abstract

Constraints of Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice among Breastfeeding Mothers of Dhaka Slums

Khaleda Islam, Nandeeta Samad, Md Monoarul Haque, Afrin Sadia, Avizit Chandra Adhikary and Nazia Ahmed

Breastfeeding is the unique source of nutrition and it plays an important role in the growth, development and survival of the infants. The initiation of breastfeeding within one hour and continuation of only breast milk up to six months ensure maximum benefits. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in Bangladesh is 64% which is low. Particularly, in slum areas the practice of exclusive breastfeeding among breastfeeding mothers are not being adopted with importance. This cross sectional study was conducted to study the factors influencing noncompliance to exclusive breastfeeding in selected slums of Dhaka city from 1 July 2016 to 10 April 2017 among conveniently selected 354 infant (0-12 months)-mother pairs. Exclusive breastfeeding was found in 27.2% cases. About one-quarter mothers intended to exclusively breastfeed their babies up to 4 months of age followed by 34.7% up to 5 months of age and 39.7% up to 6 months of age. Constraints to exclusive breastfeeding practice by the mothers were baby continued to be hungry even after breastfeeding, so they preferred giving other foods rather than practicing exclusive breastfeeding (17.4%), mothers suffered from maternal health problems and could not continue to breastfeed their babies (29.3%), mothers expressed a psychology of fear that the infant might become addicted to breast milk (14.7%), mothers explained about pain in their breasts (23.9%), mothers were forced by their mothers-in-law to wean the baby earlier (37.8%), mothers were not making enough breast milk to satisfy their babies (33.9%), mothers returned to their works earlier for earning money and could not get time to breastfed (39.9%), lack of husband’s support (29.4%), breastfeeding was so tiring (18.3%), peer group pressure (38.7%), babies refused breast milk (19.5%), weakness and dizziness during breastfeeding (31.2%) and babies were not getting enough weight (28.9%). Due to caesarian birth and occurrence of jaundice during birth 28.4% and 15.2% mother did not breastfed. The present study reveals some important factors contributing to low rate of exclusive breastfeeding in Bangladesh.