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Journal of Human Lactation, Vol. 23, No. 4, 325-332 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0890334407307567

Infant Feeding Practices in the First 6 Months and Associated Factors in a Rural and Semiurban Community in Mangochi District, Malawi

Penjani Kamudoni, MPhil

Institute of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway

Kenneth Maleta, MBBS, PhD

Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi

Zumin Shi, MD, PhD

the Institute of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway

Gerd Holmboe-Ottesen, PhD

Institute of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway

This cross-sectional study aimed at investigating infant feeding practices and their sociodemographic correlates in Mangochi District, Malawi. Questionnaire data from 157 rural and 192 semiurban mother-infant pairs were obtained. Early breastfeeding (< 1 hour after delivery) was practiced among 68.2% of the rural and 63% of the semiurban mothers. Colostrum was given by 96% of the sampled mothers. Exclusive breastfeeding rates in the sample at 2, 4, and 6 months were 39.1%, 27.5%, and 7.5%, respectively. At 4 months, exclusive breastfeeding was significantly higher in the semiurban (46.8%) than in the rural (4.7%) group. Living in the rural area (OR = 1.87; 95% CI 1.26-2.76) and giving birth outside a health facility (OR = 1.36; 95% CI 1.00-1.85) were risk factors for stopping exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months. The results suggest that semiurban mothers are more likely to practice optimum breastfeeding and that health facilities have an important role in its promotion. J Hum Lact. 23(4):325-332.

Key Words: optimum breastfeeding • exclusive breastfeeding • infant-feeding behavior • demographic factors • maternal health services • maternal-child health services • Malawi • Africa


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