Evaluation of Exclusive Breastfeeding Patterns for 6-month-old Infants of Fars Province

Introduction: Breastfeeding during the early months of life has benefits for both mother and baby and it is recommended that children should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of their life. This study was conducted to determine the exclusive breastfeeding rate in the first 6 months of life and some associated factors in Fars Province. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1681 children aged 6 to 9 months. Data were collected through a questionnaire that included demographic questions and questions about breastfeeding and some predictive variables. The information was collected by interviewing the mothers in their homes. Data were analyzed via SPSS software version 16 and evaluated by descriptive and analytical tests (Chi-square test). Results: About 57% of infants were exclusively breastfed during the first 6 months of life. The main reason for the non-breastfeeding was the lack of enough breast milk. The variables such as residence, mother's occupation, father's education, type of delivery and place of delivery had a significant effect on the rate of exclusive breastfeeding (P< 0.05). Conclusion: The exclusive breastfeeding rate in Fars Province was better than some regions of Iran and even the world and the goal of the World Health Organization for 2025 has been achieved. The main reason for the non-breastfeeding was the lack of enough breast milk, which seems to be necessary to carry out inquiries and provide useful solutions to this problem.