Yeshimebet Ali Dawed

By Yeshimebet Ali Dawed, Shambel Aychew Tsegaw and Erkihun Tadesse Amsalu

Supporting mothers to continue breastfeeding is a public health priority. Scientific studies identify challenges to optimal breastfeeding practice. Exclusive breastfeeding is one of the core indicators of infant and young child feeding, among strategies for reducing infant morbidity and mortality. It determines future growth and development of the infants both in physical and mental health. As the principle of implementation science designing evidence-based intervention strategies and support addressing individual and community level factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding practice through policies and programs was essential to improve infant feeding practice and quality of life. Therefore, emphasis should be given to encouraging women to be educated, employed, and empowered to have ANC and PNC follow-ups, and to improve their decision-making power on themselves and their infant health care for saving lives of the infants and reduction of economic losses of a country. Breastfeeding support mainly focuses on empowering women, providing emotional, instrumental, information, flexible working time, appraisal of their performance, support at individual, community, and policy level interventions with the concept of implementation science need to be implemented. This chapter intended to provide evidence-based infant feeding intervention strategies for mothers, students, health professionals, and policymakers for better implementation.

Part of the book: Infant Nutrition and Feeding