Maternal perceptions about breast-milk production predicted the daily frequency of breastfeeding in infants of age up-to six months in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: The proper quantity and quality of breast-milk availability markedly influenced by the number of breastfeeding (BF) sessions per day. Thus, evidence-based information can assist efforts to improve the frequency of successful BF by making consistent professional support. We aimed to provide information on factors predicting maternal breastfeeding-frequency (BFF).
METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted by including 861 selected lactating mothers through a cluster sampling. A face-to-face interview was administered using an Online-Data-collection-kit (ODK) platform. The collected data was directly downloaded from the Google Cloud and imported to Stata 14 for further analysis. Negative Binomial Regression was fitted to model the frequency of BF and its predictors.
RESULTS: Around 77% of mothers breastfed their infants at least 9 times per day, of which 15% of the mother's breastfed more than 12 times per day. The incidence of frequent BF increased among mothers who had postnatal follow-up (Adjusted Incidence Rate Ratio (AIRR): 1.07; 95% CI: 1.01- 1.13), who strongly perceived about the adequacy of their breast milk production (AIRR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.04-1.44) and who had preterm births (AIRR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02-1.13). Furthermore, a one-centimetre increase in Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) of the mothers was associated with an increased frequency of BF (AIRR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.02-1.03).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The ratio of lactating mothers who breastfeed their infants was found to be lower than the Ethiopia Infant and Young Child Feeding Practice (IYCF) guideline. The incidence-rate-ratio of frequent breastfeeding was directly associated with antenatal MUAC, postnatal follow-up, preterm birth, and maternal perception about breasts’ milk production. Though BFF is one of the components of appropriate BF, the issue has been getting little attention in Ethiopia. Thus, frontline health professional and concerned bodies shall give attention to the enhancement of the frequency of BF by giving attention to the identified predictors.