Publications

This study aimed to determine the factors influencing breastfeeding practices among children aged 0-24 months inBushenyi district, Uganda. The study involved 346 lactating mothers from three hospitals in the district. Astructured interview was used to gather data. The study found that age, maternal education, and knowledge ofbreastfeeding practices were significantly associated with breastfeeding practices. The majority of respondentsinitiatedbreastfeeding with their children within 1 hour, with 71.4% of respondents still practicing earlybreastfeeding (EBF) with their children below 6 months. Only 31.9% of respondents of children above 6 monthsreported practicing EBF with their children, while 68.1% did not. The majority of mothers breastfed their childrenfor at least 2 years, but overall breastfeeding practice was poor, with only 41.3% having good practices. Mostchildren were between 1-2 months old, with most being female and weighing 2.5-3.0kg at birth. The study foundthat only 31.9% of mothers exclusively breastfed their infants. The study suggests that obstetric and neonatalmedical services should be improved to help children initiate breastfeeding early, preventing missed colostrum andnutrient deficiencies.Keywords: Children 0-24 months, Breastfeeding Practices, Mothers, Child deaths, Breast milk.