Assessment of exclusive breastfeeding status in southern region of Bangladesh

Background: Breastfeeding is the gold standard for infant nutrition, playing a crucial role in the growth, development and survival of newborns. This hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to assess exclusive breastfeeding practices in the southern region of Bangladesh. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics at Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH), Barisal, Bangladesh, from August 2007 and January 2008. In this study, we enrolled 760 children 06 to 12 months of age who were admitted to the inpatient department and attended in outpatient department during this period. Results: The study revealed that while 95% of mothers were aware of the importance of colostrum, only 68.5% recognized it as the ideal first food for newborns. In practice, 65% of mothers fed colostrum first, while 35% gave pre-lacteal foods, with formula milk (37.4%), plain warm water (13.6%) and cow’s milk (13.2%) being the most common alternatives. Early initiation of breastfeeding was also examined, with 35.8% of mothers starting within one hour, 36.3% between 1-4 hours and 26.3% after four hours. While 80% of mothers knew the recommended duration of exclusive breastfeeding (six months), only 37.4% practiced it for that period. The primary reason for early supplementation was perceived insufficient milk production (77.3%), followed by concerns about the baby not growing well (10.9%). Despite challenges in exclusive breastfeeding, 94% of mothers continued breastfeeding beyond six months, while 6% discontinued. Conclusions: Breastfeeding practice is now better position than previously but it is still far away from the ultimate goal. Promoting early initiation and sustained exclusive breastfeeding could significantly contribute to child survival and overall health outcomes.