Factors Associated with Exclusive Breastfeeding among Working Mothers Attending Maternal and Child Health Clinic

Introduction: Breast milk is a natural and perfect food that protects against illness and death by acting as the baby’s first immunization. The employment of the mother is considered to be one of the most important barriers to exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). Methods: A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was done to find out the associated factors with EBF among working mothers. A total of 150 working mothers having children six to 24 months were selected. Self-developed semi-structured interview schedule was used. Pre-testing was done on 15 (10%) of the total sample and necessary modifications were done. Data were analyzed by using descriptive (Frequency, percentage) and inferential statistics (Chi-square and odds ratio). Results: A total of 52 (34.66%) working mothers reported to have practice of EBF for six months. Majority (80%) of the working mothers fed colostrum. Majority (92.85%) of the working mothers gave powdered milk due to inadequate milk secretion. Regarding Expressed Breast Milk (EBM) storage, more than 50% had no idea about EBM and 47 (31.33%) of the mothers had a breastfeeding room at their workplace. 80 (53.33%) mothers had allowed children in their workplace while 47 (88.0%) had family support. EBF was associated with mode of delivery (OR = 0.440, 95% CI: 0.214 - 0.903), child hospitalization in the past (OR = 0.139, 95% CI: 0.031 - 0.618), facility of express breastmilk (OR = 4.087, 95% CI: 0.978 - 17.079) and flexible working environment (OR = 4.2, 95% CI: 1.789 - 9.863). Conclusions: About only one-third of working mothers had given EBF to their child. Vaginal delivery, child hospitalization in the past, a facility of EBM at home, and a flexible working environment were associated factors with EBF among working mothers.