Abstract:
The importance of breastfeeding is now obvious and is no longer to prove. WHO advocates exclusive breastfeeding for up to 6 months, and continuation of breastfeeding until the age of 24 months with the introduction of adequate supplementation foods (WHO, 2003). According to a national survey (2012), at the end of the 6th month, the percentage of exclusively breastfed children i less than 3% (MSPRH, 2015). The purpose of this study is to identify the factors influencing the practice of breastfeeding. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 965 mother/ child pairs attending a vaccination center in El Khroub commune, during the period from 03 April to 28 June 2015. At 4 months, 29.6% of infants were breastfed exclusively with an average duration of 54.9 days +43.3. Twenty-four point three percent of infants were weaned with an average weaning age of 106.4 days + 50.4. Multivariate analysis revealed that prematurity, cesarean delivery, and father's unemployment affect the practice of breastfeeding at birth. At 4 and 6 months, it is the cesarean delivery mode and the mother's work that negatively affect the choice of breastfeeding mode. In addition, the lack and insufficiency of milk is the reason most often put forward by women (66.8%) for having stopped breastfeeding. Breastfeeding was done in 33.2% of cases beyond24 hours and the introduction of food was done very early (first half of life). Efforts must be made by health professionals to help parents make the best choice by providing them with complete and quality information about infant feeding. At the maternity level, care must be taken not to separate infants from their mothers and thus avoid late breastfeeding. The use of caesarean section should be reviewed by health actors.
