Exclusive breastfeeding practice among HIV infected mothers in the southern highlands of Tanzania; assessing the prevalence and factors associated with the practice, an analytical cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND: There is no other better way to safeguard an infant’s health in the first 6 months of life than exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). Breast milk is valuable in all aspects of an infant’s physical and mental growth as well as immune development. The study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with EBF practice among HIV-infected mothers in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. METHOD: A hospital-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among lactating HIV-infected mothers. A random sampling procedure was used to obtain 372 HIV-infected mothers of infants from 6 to 12 months of age who were still breastfeeding at the time of data collection. An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with EBF practice. Statistical package for social science (SPSS volume 20) software was used for data entry and analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of EBF practice was 58.1% at 95% Confidence Interval of 52.9% to 63.1%. More than half of the respondents 199 (53.5%) had adequate knowledge while 173(46.5%) had inadequate knowledge about EBF. After adjusting for confounders, factors associated with EBF practice were knowledge about EBF [Adequate knowledge (AOR = 5.11 at 95% CI 3.2–8.17, p < 0.001)], ANC visits [Adequate (AOR = 1.76 at 95% CI 1.09–2.82, p = 0.002)], Income per day [1 0r more USD (AOR = 1.83 at 95% CI 1.14–2.94, p = 0.013)], positive perception of EBF [ positive perception (AOR = 3.51 at 95% CI 2.25–5.47, p < 0.001) and having ever experienced a breast problem AOR = 3.91 at 95% CI 1.89–8.08, p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: More than half of interviewed mothers with HIV practiced EBF. The EBF practice among HIV lactating mothers was significantly influenced by adequate knowledge of EBF, positive perception toward EBF, adequate ANC visits, and having never experienced breast problems. Strengthening adherence to ANC routine visits, counseling on breastfeeding, and improving mothers’ knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding would contribute to the enhancement of EBF practice in this region. An innovative interventional study is recommended to develop more effective strategies to improve EBF knowledge and practice among HIV-infected mothers.