Determinants of child feeding practices in Pakistan; secondary data analysis of demographic and health survey 2006-07

Background: In Pakistan, poor infant and young child feeding practices are contributing to the burden of infectious diseases and malnutrition. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the determinants of selected feeding practices and key indicators of breastfeeding in Pakistan. Materials and Methods: Total 5718 children aged 0 to 23 months from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey of 2006-2007 were included. WHO recommended infant and young child feeding indicators were estimated, and selected feeding indicators were examined against a set of individual-, household-, and community-level variables using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Only 26.3% of mothers initiated breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, 97.6% had ever breastfed, 92.5% were currently breastfeeding, and 62.7% were currently bottle feeding. Bottle feeding rates were higher among infants whose mothers partner had worked (OR = 1.66), had ever been employed (OR = 1.17), birth order > 5 (OR = 1.25) and in the Richest wealth quintiles (OR for the richest = 2.34). The likelihood of not initiating breastfeeding within first hour after birth was higher for mothers those who were not visited to the antenatal clinic (OR = 1.54), no post natal visits (OR = 1.45), working mother (OR = 1.76), delivery at facility based centre (OR = 1.95), richer households (OR = 1.77), birth order > 5 (OR = 1.67), and formally married women (OR = 2.31). Conclusions: Breastfeeding practice indicators suggest that there is need for promotion of correct/recommended breastfeeding practices in the community. Breast feeding promotion should targeted those women who have younger age and working in the urban areas.