Introduction: Even though exclusive breastfeeding prevalence has increased from 19.3% in 2006 to 47.1% in 2016, this practice was slightly higher in urban areas (48.3%) compared to rural area (45.1%) in Malaysia. National Plan of Action for Nutrition of Malaysia III has set an indicator to achieve at least 70% exclusive breastfeeding by 2025. Therefore this study is to identify predictors that influenced exclusive breastfeeding practice in rural areas. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in six rural health clinics in Hulu Langat District, Selangor among moth- ers with youngest child aged 6-48 months old. Respondents were selected through systematic random sampling. Validated self-administered questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographic factors, maternal factors, external factors and child’s factors. Mother’s height and weight was measured and body mass index was calculated. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the predictors for ex- clusive breastfeeding practice. Results: Response rate was 96% with a total of 311 mothers participated in this study. More than half of the mothers exclusively breastfed (52.4%). The predictors for exclusive breastfeeding were Malay ethnicity (AOR=3.951, 95% CI: 1.374-11.358), having tertiary education (AOR=2.401, 95% CI: 1.100-5.241) and positive attitude toward breastfeeding (AOR=7.755, 95% CI: 1.382-43.502). Conclusion: Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was higher in this study than the national level. Programme planners should pay special attention to Chinese and Indian ethnicities, mothers with lower level of education and negative attitude in order to improve breastfeeding practice among rural mothers.
Background: Kangaroo mother care (KMC) in low birth weight newborns has been found to be beneficial, but
studies have shown that maternal factors might be of concern in the successful application of KMC.
Aim: To study the influence of maternal factors on growth parameters in low-birth-weight babies with KMC.
Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of 40 low birth weight newborns in our institutions. We randomly
assigned the newborns to the group which received KMC and to the group which received conventional care.
Maternal factors were recorded. We measured weight, length, and head circumferences of newborns daily
for thirty days. Data was processed by SPSS x22.0.
Results: A total of 40 newborns were recruited into the study. Weight parameters were significantly higher
in the KMC group than in the conventional group except for the Z scores. Regarding maternal characteristics,
only gestational age was found to influence the initial and the last head circumference (p=0.035). There were
no differences in maternal age, parity, maternal education, mode of delivery, fetal sex, and initial Apgar score
with any of the growth parameters.
Conclusion: There were no maternal and fetal differences in the growth parameters of the groups, except in
the delayed growth of head circumferences in preterm infants.
Keywords: Growth parameters, KMC method, low birth weight