Patterns of breast feeding in western Ethiopia and their relationship to acute diarrhoea in infants.

To determine the extent of protection from breast feeding against acute diarrhoea, a cross-sectional study was conducted in rural areas in a western region of Ethiopia, Gamo-Gofa. The standard cluster sampling technique promoted by WHO/CDD Program was used. We employed trained and supervised health workers (physicians nurses, and sanitarians) as interviewers, and a pretested questionnaire was utilized for the purpose. Among a total of 3002 children under the age of 5 years surveyed for diarrhoeal disease morbidity, mortality, and treatment rates, all those 6 months of age and less (n = 331) were taken as subjects to examine the trends of breast feeding and their association with the occurrence of acute diarrhoeal diseases. It was found that out of these 331 infants, 217 (66 per cent) were exclusively breast-fed and 114 (34 per cent) were partially breast-fed. No one in the study group was fully weaned. Out of those who were exclusively breast-fed (n = 217), 25 (12 per cent) had diarrhoea which started within the past 2 weeks of the survey. Among those partially breast-fed (n = 114), 46 (40 per cent) had diarrhoea. The difference in the occurrence of diarrhoea among exclusively and partially breast-fed infants was statistically significant (P less than 0.0001). When infants with partial breast feeding were contrasted with those on exclusive breast feeding, a relative risk of developing diarrhoea of 5.2 (95 per cent confidence interval 3.00, 9.10) was obtained. It is recommended that breast feeding which tends to diminish with urbanization be promoted as one important intervention of the control of diarrhoeal diseases.