Factors Affecting Exclusive Breast Feeding At Galkaio General Hospital, Galkaio District, Mudug Region, Puntland_Somalia

Abstract

Exclusive breastfeeding refers to the percentage of children less than six months old who are fed

breast milk alone (no other liquids) in the past 24 hours(WHO, 2013), which provides the only

perfect nutrients for babies, protect them against infections and it lays the foundation of their

breathing psychological development(Berlin, 2005).

A cross sectional study was conducted at Galkaio General Hospital, Galkaio district, Mudug

region, Puntland_somalia. To determine the practices of breastfeeding among the mothers

attending Galkaio General Hospital, the social practices affecting breast feeding and to identify

cultural hindering factors to exclusive Breast feeding among mothers at Galkaio general

Hospital, Puntland_somalia.

This study showed that most of the mothers breastfed for 6 months (33%), followed by those who

breastfeed 7-12 months (28%), which was higher than previous results and that 58% of the mothers

said that their culture says that baby do not get enough milk when they practice exclusive

breastfeeding, 35% said the baby do not get enough milk.

The study concluded that there is low practice of exclusive breastfeeding at Galkaio General

Hospital, Galkaio District, Mudug region, Puntland_somalia. This was majorly influenced by the

cultural believes and barriers in this study area.

The study recommended that the government of Puntland_somalia, especially Mudug region

should institute maternal education programs to teach mothers about breastfeeding and early

child hood development, the community leaders should initiate mother to mother peer program

to overcome the rampant cultural barriers in the implementing of exclusive breastfeeding and

another study should be conducted to determine drivers and the outcomes of the breastfeeding practices among women in Mudug region on their child’s development