Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online) Vol.6, No.4, 2016 120 Factors affecting the uptake of Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) in Kisumu East District, Kenya Schiller Mbuka 1, 2* Lawrence Muthami 2 Anselimo Makokha 1 1. College of Health Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, PO box 62000, City Square 00200, Nairobi, Kenya 2. Centre for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, PO box 20752, 00202, Nairobi, Kenya Abstract Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) the best means of infant nutrition. This is because it offers great benefits to maternal and child health in general, including prevention of vertical transmission of HIV/ AIDS. This study sought to identify the factors associated with the uptake of EBF among mothers with children aged 0-<6 months. Overall, the uptake of EBF was higher than is seen in other countries in Africa and across the globe. Binary logistic regression identified having male children and ownership of certain assets as positive predictors of EBF uptake. Absence of a chronic disease and knowledge of cultural and traditional practices surrounding EBF were shown to be negatively associated with uptake of EBF. Keywords: breastfeeding, child health, maternal health 1. Introduction Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) means that a given infant receives only breast milk. No other liquids or solids are given, not even water, with the exception of oral rehydration salt solution, or drops/syrups of vitamins, minerals or medicines (WHO & others, 2003). It is often mooted as the best means of infant nutrition. This is because it offers great benefits to maternal and child health in general (Lau et al., 2015). The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) indicates that infants should be exclusively breastfed, right from the first hour after birth until they attain the age of six months. Thereafter, complementary breastfeeding should continue up to the age of 2 years (Unicef & others, 2012). Indeed, studies have shown that EBF in the first 6 months and continued breastfeeding for the first year of life could prevent 1.3 million child deaths worldwide, making promotion of breastfeeding a key strategy of child-survival programs (Yates, 2009). In the real world situation, however, there are often internal and external factors at play that either promote or discourage EBF. These factors may be social, economic, cultural or behavioural (Kannan et al., 1999; Mascarenhas et al., 2006). Kisumu county and the larger Nyanza region have been demonstrated to have higher rates of child mortality than other parts of Kenya (KNBS, 2010). In addition, the prevalence of HIV/ AIDS is more than twice the national rate (Chege et al., 2012). Because EBF promotes infant health and development (Lau et al., 2015) and has been shown as a protective factor for vertical (mother-to-child) transmission of HIV (Iliff et al., 2005; Coovadia et al., 2007); it is important to study the factors that influence its uptake, especially in the study area where it’s potential to reduce child morbidity and mortality is directly proportional to the same morbidity and mortality rates, if not more. 2. Methodology 2.1 Study site The study was conducted in Kisumu East district. Kisumu East is one of the constituencies in Kisumu County Kisumu is a lake city in Western Kenya at 1131m (3711ft). Kisumu County is relatively densely populated compared with the rest of Kenya with a population of 968,909 and an area of 2,085.9 km 2 , Kisumu County has a population density of 460 per square kilometers. The vast majority of the people belong to the Luo ethnic community, the dominant language is Dholuo, but English is also spoken by a majority of the population. The main economic activity is fishing; other economic activities include farming and animal husbandry. 2.2 Study Population The study population included mothers of 0-<6 month’s babies in Kisumu, and those who gave consent to be interviewed. The inclusion criteria for the study was all mothers of 0-<6 month’s babies in Kisumu east, and mothers who give consent. While the exclusion criteria was mothers who do not reside in Kisumu, mothers of babies with congenital problems and mothers declined to give consent. 2.3 Study Design and Sampling procedure This was a mixed methods study that adopted both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The mixed methods design that was used is the convergent design. The convergent design was initially conceptualized as a “triangulation” design where the two different methods were used to obtain triangulated results about a single