Barriers To Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Mothers With Children Aged 6-9 Months In Mogadishu City, Somalia

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in the first six months of life is the most effective way to satisfy a baby's nutritional and psychologicalneeds. It is a simple intervention to improve a child's health and development. Despite its advantages, there is a low global rate ofexclusive breastfeeding (EBF), and in Mogadishu, Somalia, EBF is rarely practised. This research identified social and cultural factorsthat might influence the practice of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers with babies aged between 6-9 months in Mogadishu, toinform and support redress.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among mothers of 280 infants aged six months to 9 months. Mothers wererecruited using a consecutive sampling method. Data were collected using questionnaires, and the analysis was done using SPSS version23. Logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding, and statistical significance wasdetermined at a 5% significance level.ResultsTwo hundred eighty mothers participated in the study. The mothers' average age was 27.8 (±4.12) years, while the babies were, onaverage aged 7.6(±1.2) months. About 63% of the mothers were married, and 67% had 2 to 5 children. The level of exclusivelybreastfeeding was at 30% (95%CI: 25.2-36.03). Being married/cohabiting (OR=2.877, 95%CI: 1.21-6.90), acquiring up tosecondary/tertiary education level (OR=4.282, 95%CI: 1.78-10.30), is not advised to give their children food/drinks with the first six(OR=0.04; 95%CI (12.94 – 51.19); P<0.001).CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONThe percentage of exclusive breastfeeding in Somalia is below the level recommended by WHO and National Infant and Young Childfeeding practices (IYCF). Interventions from the Somali government regarding policies, guidelines and protocols are highly needed.