Abstract

Breastfeeding entails feeding of infants or young children with breast milk from female breasts. Exclusive breast feeding (EBF) entails feeding an infant for 6 months and thereafter should receive complementary foods with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond. Studies indicate that first time mothers are the most non adherent to EBF compared to other groups of mothers. The overall objective of the study was to assess the factors affecting first time mothers from exclusively breastfeeding in Kyabugimbi health centre IV, Bushenyi district. A descriptive cross-sectional method was used. Results: The sample size of the study population was 100 First time mothers. The mother’s ages ranged from I5 to 44 years. The highest percentage of the mothers (44%) was in the age group of 20-24 while the least percentage (1%) was in the age group 40-44 years. EBF declined as the infant aged where the highest percentage was seen among those who exclusively breastfed for only one month (30%) and only (4%) of the mothers breastfed for six months. Health workers provided information (90%), spouses (85%) and friends (65%).Those with fair working conditions practiced EBF (52%). Of the (44%) aged between 20 – 24 years, only 36% of them did EBF for >/=4 months. Part-time and self-employed mothers stopped EBF and used complementary feeds (44%) and (60%) used complementary feeds respectively. Housewives practiced EBF (62%) more other groups of mothers. Young age, highly fixed employment status influenced on mother’s practice of EB. Mother’s perceptions of babies needing more than milk, fear of breasts loosing shape contributes to low EBF. Encouragement of EBF through public forums, health education to explain to First time mothers the importance of breastfeeding at antenatal care (ANC) and Postnatal Care (PNC) clinics, more aggressively implementing the existing policy on EBF. Research beyond this descriptive study (qualitative research) is needed; for instance a research on the adequacy of breast milk in meeting the nutritional needs of infants to 6 months.