Pattern of exclusive breastfeeding and related factors in children attending health centers of Omidieh city in 2010

Exclusive breastfeeding as the most important part of children's lifeline has the most efficacy in health promotion and prevention of diseases in children. Several lines of evidence emphasis on positive effects of breastfeeding on physical and mental child growth.The aim of this study was determinate prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and related factors in children attending health centers of Omidieh In a descriptive –analytic study 400 children 6- 18 months who seek for receiving routine child health care, during the period of sampling were studied. Interview with mother, filling a questionnaire by trained questioner were used for data collection. Chi square, T test and Regression Logistic were done. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 61.6%. A significant association was found between exclusive breast feeding and and birth weight, start breast feeding immediately after birth, encourage of family to artificial feeding, type of delivery and number of children. (p <0 / 05). In spite of relative high prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in children attending health center of Omidieh, role of education of mother about benefits of exclusive breast feeding must be in priority in health centers. Also education about immediately start of breast feeding after birth, avoid feeding of children with other things and choose of vaginal delivery is very important.