Influence of activity time, socio-cultural and institutional factors on the exclusive breastfeeding practices among mothers of children aged 0-5 months

This was a cross-sectional study carried out between July and December 2017 in the communes of Aguegues and Zakpota in Benin and aimed at investigating the influence of activity time, socio-cultural and institutional factors on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) practices among mothers of children aged 0-5 months. Participants were breastfeeding women with children aged 0-5 months, and others resources members of the households. Data were collected from 200 households and was based on a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative aspects. Results revealed that less than half of infants, 47% (Aguegues) and 41% (Zakpota), were exclusively breastfed. In Zakpota, neither the time of the mothers’ activity, nor the socio-cultural and institutional factors, nor the advice received on EBF influenced the rate of EBF. Nevertheless in Aguegues, only sociocultural factors and advice received on EBF were significant. Research suggested that the EBF rate could be increased by improving the support of women’s relatives and health workers' knowledge in terms of good EBF practices. Keywords: Advise received, commune of Aguegue and Zakpota, health workers, households’ resources members, rate of exclusive breastfeeding