BACKGROUND The health benefits of exclusive breastfeeding practices in both the short and long term accrue to breastfed infants, mothers, families and the society at large. Despite the evidence of these benefits and adoption of various World Health Organization (WHO) strategies on promotion of exclusive breastfeeding by Ghana, the increase in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding has been very slow in the country. This study aimed to estimate the rate and investigate socio-economic and demographic determinants of 6 months exclusive breastfeeding in two rural districts in Southern Ghana. METHODS Pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, demographic and socioeconomic information of 1870 women who were prospectively registered by the Dodowa Health and Demographic Surveillance System and gave birth between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2013 was extracted. The proportion of 6 months exclusive breastfeeding among the study participants was estimated and the relationship between the dependent and the independent variables were explored using logistics regression model at 95% confidence level. RESULTS The proportion of mothers who exclusive breastfed for 6 months in the study was 71.0%. Mothers aged 25-29 and 30 + years are 93 and 91% respectively more likely to practice 6 months exclusive breastfeeding compared to those aged < 20 years (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.25, 2.99, OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.91, 3.08). The odds of artisan mothers practicing 6 months exclusive breastfeeding is 36% less likely compared to those unemployed (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.43, 0.96). There is a higher chance that 45% of mothers with a household size of more than five members to practice exclusive breastfeeding compared to those with household size of less than six (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.16, 1.81). Women in the fishing district were 85% less likely to practice 6 months exclusive breastfeeding compared to those in farming district (OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.12, 0.20). CONCLUSION There is high rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the study area. Maternal age, type of occupation, household size and district of residence are determinants of 6 months exclusive breastfeeding among the study participants.

中文翻译：

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估计加纳南部农村母亲纯母乳喂养方式的比率和决定因素。

背景技术母乳喂养的婴儿，母亲，家庭和整个社会在短期和长期都享有纯母乳喂养做法的健康益处。尽管有这些好处的证据，加纳通过了世界卫生组织（WHO）促进纯母乳喂养的各种策略，但该国纯母乳喂养率的增长非常缓慢。这项研究旨在估算加纳南部两个农村地区纯母乳喂养6个月的比率并调查其社会经济和人口统计学决定因素。方法提取了1870名妇女的怀孕，分娩，母乳喂养，人口统计学和社会经济信息，这些妇女已在Dodowa健康和人口统计学监测系统进行了前瞻性登记，并于2011年1月1日至2013年12月31日之间出生。估计了研究参与者中6个月纯母乳喂养的比例，并使用后勤回归模型以95％的置信水平探索了因变量和自变量之间的关系。结果研究中纯母乳喂养6个月的母亲比例为71.0％。与年龄小于20岁的母亲相比，年龄在25-29岁和30岁以上的母亲分别进行93个月和9月纯母乳喂养的可能性分别为93％和91％（或1.93、95％CI 1.25、2.99或1.91、95％CI 1.91、3.08 ）。与无业母亲相比，熟练工母亲进行6个月纯母乳喂养的几率要低36％（OR 0.64，95％CI 0.43，0.96）。与家庭规模小于六岁的母亲相比，家庭规模大于五名的母亲中有45％的母亲实行纯母乳喂养的可能性更高（OR 1.45，95％CI 1.16，1.81）。与渔区的妇女相比，渔区的妇女进行6个月纯母乳喂养的可能性要低85％（OR 0.15，95％CI 0.12，0.20）。结论研究区纯母乳喂养的比例很高。产妇年龄，职业类型，家庭规模和居住地区是研究参与者中6个月纯母乳喂养的决定因素。结论研究区纯母乳喂养的比例很高。产妇年龄，职业类型，家庭规模和居住地区是研究参与者中6个月纯母乳喂养的决定因素。结论研究区纯母乳喂养的比例很高。产妇年龄，职业类型，家庭规模和居住地区是研究参与者中6个月纯母乳喂养的决定因素。