Tap chi Y Hoc Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh

Objectives: Breastfeeding is the natural method which
bringsvarious economic benefits as well as protects marternal and infant
health. However, most of Vietnamese mothers have not skillfully practicedthe
process of exclusive breastfeeding over first 6 months. Our study figures out
the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in first 6 months and related factors
at Mekong hospital.

Methods: A cross – sectional study was conducted among
women who had given birth at Mekong Hospital. All the participants were
recrusted after 6-8 months of their childbirth. Subjects were face-to-face
interviewedwhen they had their children vaccinated at the hospital. The
questionnaire included social factors, characteristics during the delivery and
feeding models. We compared the odd of the factors between the two groups: with
and without first 6 months exclusive breastfeeding.

Results: From September 2016 to March 2017, 386 women were
interviewed, the rate of first-six-month exclusive breastfeeding was 27,2%.
Some factors were found associated with this rate including mother age over 35
(PR = 4.1; 95% CI: 1.0-16.6), history of
breastfeeding more than 24 months for her previous child (PR = 7.13; 95% CI: 1.0 – 49.7), initiation of breastfeeding 1 hour
later after childbirth (PR = 0.1; 95% CI: 0.06
– 0.32), return working more than 6 months after childbirth (PR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.0 – 4.6), suction and store breastmilk (PR =
2.9; 95% CI: 1.6 – 5.4).

Conclusions: The rate of first-six-month- exclusive
breastfeeding was low at Mekong hospital. To initiate breastfeeding during the
first hour of childbirth and store breastmilk for busy mother might be the
recomemdations for mothers who would like to keep exclusive breastfeeding in
first 6 months.

Key words: exclusive breastfeeding.