Social Determinants of Exclusive Breast Feeding Among Family Farmers in Central Myanmar

Background: Undernutrition is a public health problem in many developing countries. Providing better care and nutritional improvement are still challenges in rural areas of Myanmar. Agriculture is the main sector in the country and there is a paucity of knowledge on breastfeeding among family farmers. This study aimed to find out the knowledge and attitude of exclusive breastfeeding and its social determinants among Myanmar family farmers. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Magway Division, Myanmar. A total of 160 mothers of 6 to 24 months were recruited by convenience sampling. Data was collected by face-to-face interview method by using the structured questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among the respondents was 64.7% and 89.5% of mothers started breastfeeding within half an hour. Findings reported that 61.4% of the study population had a good level of knowledge and 38.6% had poor knowledge related to exclusive breastfeeding. In this study,89.5% of mothers were identified as having good attitudes, and 10.5% were identified as having poor attitudes toward exclusive breastfeeding. The education level of parents, respondent’s knowledge, and attitude toward exclusive breastfeeding were identified as determinants of exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusion: A more educated family can have better lifestyle choices and awareness of nutrition among the rural population.