Exclusive Breastfeeding Patterns in Tanzania. Do Individual, Household, or Community Factors Matter?

Kwalu S. Dede, International Institute of Social Studies-Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Hilde Bras, Groningen University

Exclusive breastfeeding knowledge is higher among women in Tanzania. It enhances the infants’ immune system besides protecting them against infectious diseases. If practiced optimally, protects mothers against NCDs besides promising spaced births. We examined the extent to which individual, household, and community factors matter in explaining exclusive breastfeeding practices in Tanzania. We analysed the 2015/16 TDHS data. The dependent variable was exclusive breastfeeding (feeding infants with breast-milk only up to six months). Both univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to determine the factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding. The exclusive breastfeeding rate was 59%; women were at greater odds of practicing exclusive breastfeeding if lived in a rural ; aged between 30-39 years; the infant’s size was normal at birth; postnatal checkup by nurses/midwives; and the infant was <2 months. Rural women tend to practice exclusive breastfeeding. We recommend on researching why exclusive breastfeeding rates among urban women are lower.