Infant Feeding Practice and Associated Factors of HIV Positive Mothers Attending Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission and Antiretroviral Therapy Clinics in Shashemene Referal Hospital

Background: - HIV/AIDS remains one of the greatest burdens in the world today. In Sub-Saharan Africa, with a prevalence of HIV infection were 5.0%, still accounts for over two thirds (68%) of infections. Without intervention to prevent mother-to-child transmission, 30-45% of infants born to HIV-positive mothers in developing countries become infected during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding.Objective:-To assess infant feeding practice and associated factors of HIV positive mothers attending prevention of mother to child transmission and antiretroviral therapy clinics in Shashemene Referral Hospital.Methods: Facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2016 to April 2016, in Shashemene Referral Hospital. The study participants were selected by using simple random sampling computer generated technique. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify associated factors.Result: - The mean age the respondents were 29.73 years, of which 79.5% were from urban residence.The proportion of infant feeding practice among population was determined which revealed that 96.6% were EBF followed by ERF 4(2.7%) with independent predictors of favorable attitude (AOR = 22.173 (95%CI = 1.643-299.194), good NVP adherence for baby (AOR = 26.917 (95%CI = 2.102-344.69) were independent predictors of recommended way of infant feeding practice (EBF) for the first six months.Out of total study respondents about 56.8% with 95% CI of (49.3- 64.4%) had good knowledge towards infant feeding practice with identified factors of favorable attitude (AOR = 10.95 (95%CI = 3.855-31.118), duration of stay with partner (AOR = 7.078 (95%CI = 2.140-23.46), educational status of the mother (AOR= 14.421 (95%CI = 2.515-82.708) and primary source of information on infant feeding from Health care provider (AOR= 63.69(95%CI = 4.194-967.37) and mass media ( AOR= 5.811 (1.348-25.091) were identified factors demonstrated greater likelihoods of had good knowledge among the study participants. This determined that the rate of HIV exposed infants positivity was 6(4.1%) at six weeks and 8(5.5%) at 18 months by rapid antibody test.Conclusion and recommendation: - The proportion of exclusive breast feeding, good knowledge and favorable attitude among HIV positive mothers revealed that 96.3%, 56.8% and 75% respectively in the study area.The rate HIV positive of HIV exposed infants were 6(4.1%) at six weeks by dry blood spot (DBS) and 8(5.5%) at 18 months by rapid antibody test. This study identified that different factors contributed for having good knowledge and practice of exclusive breast feeding among the study population. Therefore, these factors would be emphatically considered during development of infants feeding program by policy makers and health planners. Keywords: Infant feeding practice, HIV-positive mothers, PMTCT, ART Shashemene Referral Hospital