Determinants of duration of breastfeeding in Uganda.

Abstract

The general objective of the study was to examine the socio-economic and demographic factors that determine the duration of breastfeeding in Uganda. The study used secondary data obtained from UDHS which was conducted by UBOS in conjunction with Macro International. The researcher employed STATA, a statistical package for data analysis. At univariate analysis level, descriptive statistics was presented for the selected independent variables while at bivariate analysis level, the Log Rank chi square was used to test for equality of the survival times. At Multivariate analysis level, a Cox’s proportional hazard model was applied to determine the socio-economic and demographic determinants of duration of breastfeeding amongst women in Uganda. It was found that age of the mother, marital status, education of the mother, residence and employment had a significant association with duration of breast feeding. Using the Cox’s proportional hazard model; age of the mother, education level attained, marital status, residence, occupation, and total children ever born had significant effect on the duration of breast feeding. It is recommended that the government of Uganda (GOU) in conjunction with the line ministry (MOH) organize sensitization campaigns and provide relevant information on the importance of lengthened breastfeeding and discourage early cessation of breastfeeding targeting most especially mothers aged 30 and above to avoid early termination of breastfeeding. The GOU in consultation with other development partners in the country should work out better ways of handling working breastfeeding mothers at work places. Breastfeeding mothers should be provided with breastfeeding friendly employment conditions such as flexible working hours, delegation or sharing of activities, and provide workplace facilities like rest rooms as it will foster continued breastfeeding. The GOU should put in place policies that restrict the use of breast milk substitutes since they encourage the elite and well to do mothers to introduce them before time to the should be breastfeeding children. More research and future studies need to be done to find the pathways through which education influences the duration of breastfeeding.