Universal Journal of Food and Nutrition Science 2(4): 45-49, 2014 http://www.hrpub.org DOI: 10.13189/ujfns.2014.020401 Demographic and Personal Characteristics Associated with Exclusive Breastfeeding among Lactating Mother in Siaya County of Nyanza Province in Kenya Samuel Jerry Odindo 1,* , Dan O. Odindo 2 , John Alwar 3 , Rose Olayo 4 , Aaron Mwayi 4 , Henry Oyugi 5 1 Department of Health System Management, Great Lakes University of Kisumu, 40100, Kenya 2 Department of Health System Management, Great Lakes University of Kisumu, Kisumu, 40100 2224, Kenya 3 Department of combating ill health, Great Lakes University of Kisumu, 40100 2224, Kenya 4 Department of Health Promotion, Great Lakes University of Kisumu, 40100 2224, Kenya 5 Department of Measurement, Great Lakes University of Kisumu, 40100, 2224, Kenya *Corresponding Author: kabokasam@gmail.com Copyright © 2014 Horizon Research Publishing All rights reserved. Abstract Introduction: This was a nested study in which 2011 data from a baseline study conducted by Great Lakes University of Kisumu, supported with funds from UNICEF Kenya, findings was analyzed and used to assess the role of demographic and personal characteristic associated with exclusive breast feeding as a way of checking the high mortality of under-5 children in Nyanza province. Methods: A multi-stage cluster sampling technique was used to select 3,200 households. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the coverage of exclusive breastfeeding practice. Frequencies were run using SPSS and Chi –square test was used to determine the association. Findings: The practice of exclusive breastfeeding in Siaya County is found at 29.9%; with unemployed mothers presenting at 36.1%, while working class mothers performed poorly at 21.4%. On demographic factors, marital status reported that polygamous had 33.0%. Single mothers reported 36.0%.On personal characteristics, the time taken to initiate breast milk to a baby had an association with exclusive breast feeding. Conclusion: Marital status, putting the child on breast milk has an association with exclusive breastfeeding. Keywords Exclusive Breast Feeding, Maternal Health, Under Five, Demographic and Personal Characteristics 1. Introduction More than 10 million children under the age of five die each year 4 , 41% of the deaths occur in the Sub - Saharan Africa and 34% in South Asia. A major cause of death is inappropriate breastfeeding practices that complicate frequent infections 3 . According to WHO, 1.5 million deaths are caused by lack of immediate or exclusive breastfeeding in infancy 13 .The widely accepted “universal coverage” target for exclusive breast feeding is 90% [5] . The 32% prevalence of exclusive breast feeding in Kenya falls below the widely accepted “universal coverage” target for exclusive breast feeding at 90% [6] . In African families, fathers play a strong role in the decision of whether or not; to breastfeed. Fathers may be opposed to breastfeeding because of concerns about what their role would be in feeding, whether they would be able to bond with their infant if they were personally unable to feed the baby, and how the mother would be able to accomplish household responsibilities if she breastfed [9] . Studies of African American families in which education on breastfeeding was directed at the father, found a 20 percent increase in breastfeeding rates, indicating that paternal influences on maternal feeding practices are critically important in early decision making about breastfeeding [14] . In Africa, as noted, clinics and health centres advise mothers to breastfeed exclusively for at least the first six months of their babies’ lives. However, when mothers arrive home, several other factors come into play. First, in the African context, mothers are usually not the sole decision makers when it comes to their children. Grandmothers play an important role in the mothers’ and infants’ lives and are said to have a strong influence over what mothers feed their babies. Low levels of involvement by fathers and other community members in infant care is another reason for not taking the advice from health centres easily. The absence of men and youth groups from infants breastfeeding promotion activities has been identified as a contributing factor to the low numbers of women who breastfeed [14]. 1.1. Objective 1. To examine demographic factors associated with exclusive breast feeding practices among lactating mothers in Siaya County.