Investigating the relationship between exclusive breast-feeding and health literacy in primiparous women

 The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved exclusive breast-feeding during the first six months of childhood. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between exclusive breast-feeding, health literacy and other affective factors in primiparous women using logistic regression model.  This study was an analytic study. The population of this study consisted of primiparous women on reproductive age visiting health centers in Tehran, with a child aged two years to five. Data were collected by questionnaire and interview with mothers and analyzed using logistic regression model.  Exclusive breast-feeding was reported in 50.5% of mothers. There was a statistically significant relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and variables health literacy level in adequate level (p<0.001) and not much enough level (p<0.05), mother’s age (p<0.001), the first time of lactation in level of greater than one hour and a level after one hour (p<0.001), the delivery method (p <0.05), and job (p <0.05). The adequacy of the model was confirmed by the Hosmer-Lemeshow test.  The level of health literacy and the variables of the first time lactation, maternal age, delivery method and occupation were affected by exclusive breast-feeding. Therefore, considering the above factors, especially increasing the level of mothers' health literacy through the organization of workshops can be effective.