Prevalence and Determinants of Exclusive Breastfeeding among Infants after Discharge from a Neonatal Unit in South-South Nigeria

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is essential for infant health, but global rates remain below the WHO's 70% target. Neonatal unit admissions can disrupt EBF, yet little is known about EBF rates among infants discharged from Special Care Baby Units (SCBU) in Nigeria. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the exclusive breastfeeding prevalence among infants aged 0-6 months on follow up after discharge from SCBU in a tertiary facility. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 263 mother-infant pairs at the Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa (FMCY) from February 7th – May 22nd 2024 using a semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data collected included sociodemographic characteristics and exclusive breastfeeding status, antenatal and delivery history, indication for admission, duration on admission, and breastfeeding support at birth and during admission. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, employing bivariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify factors associated with EBF. Results: The EBF prevalence was 40.3%. Significant factors in bivariate analysis included child’s age (OR = 0.41, p = 0.012), mode of delivery (OR = 1.82, p = 0.035), place of delivery (OR = 2.15, p = 0.022), gestational age (OR = 2.36, p = 0.014), pregnancy/birth complications (OR = 0.56, p = 0.047), prematurity/low birth weight (OR = 0.52, p = 0.040), early breastfeeding initiation (OR = 2.78, p = 0.006), skin-to-skin contact (OR = 2.04, p = 0.033), and health worker support (OR = 2.27, p = 0.019). In multivariate analysis, only child’s age (OR = 0.37, p = 0.008) and skin-to-skin contact (OR = 0.49, p = 0.048) remained significant. Conclusion: Exclusive breastfeeding rates among infants discharged from SCBU at FMCY are below optimal levels. Enhancing early skin-to-skin contact, and providing targeted breastfeeding support, especially for preterm and low-birth-weight infants, are crucial to improving EBF rates and meeting WHO targets.