Socio-demographic factors influencing practice and awareness of exclusive breastfeeding benefits among women of reproductive age attending maternal and child health clinic in Tudor Sub-County Hospital

Abstract

Background: Knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among women is essential for promoting optimal infant nutrition. Breastfeeding is recommended exclusively for the first six months of life, followed by complementary feeding up to two years or beyond. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 mothers attending the Tudor Sub-County MCH clinic in Mombasa, Kenya. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were applied. Results: Four socio-demographic factors significantly influenced EBF practice: child gender, maternal education, marital status, and parity. Awareness of the benefits of EBF was influenced by maternal education and occupation. Conclusion: Efforts to improve women’s education and create supportive workplace conditions are essential to increase exclusive breastfeeding rates.