title: Factors Influencing Exclusive Breastfeeding in Early Infancy: A Prospective Study in North Central Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the association between prenatal exclusive breastfeeding intentions and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and explore other factors associated with EBF until 3 months postpartum among mothers residing in suburban parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  This longitudinal observational study involved the recruitment of 210 pregnant women who were prospectively followed until 3 months postpartum. Participants were recruited from antenatal clinics attached to four separate public secondary health facilities located in the suburban parts of Abuja. Cox regression hazards model was used to determine the risk of EBF cessation at 3 months postpartum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 70.0 % of women had strong intention to exclusively breastfeed. The risk of exclusive breastfeeding cessation was significantly lower in women with strong exclusive breastfeeding intentions (HR 0.87, 95 % CI 0.8-0.95). Other risk factors for cessation of exclusive breastfeeding were pre-lacteal feed administration (HR 2.93 95 % CI 1.49-5.77) and mode of delivery (HR 0.17 95 % CI 0.04-0.67). Higher maternal age (≥35 years), religion (Muslim) and having an unplanned pregnancy lowered the likelihood of having a strong intention to exclusively breastfeed an infant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prenatal exclusive breastfeeding intention was a strong predictor of exclusive breastfeeding. Intentions to EBF were further explained by maternal characteristics. Effective promotion of exclusive breastfeeding during prenatal period should also target factors influencing breastfeeding intentions. Additional research is warranted into the influence of maternal attitudes and self-efficacy about breastfeeding on breastfeeding intentions and practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan. omobolanle_balogun@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Olukunmi O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Balogun
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.|Integrated Health Risk Assessment Section, Center for Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Satomi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Kola M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Anigo
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.affiliation: Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.|Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asakura
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.|Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D033182:Intention; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008423:Maternal Age; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009549:Nigeria; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Breastfeeding; Breastfeeding intention; Exclusive breastfeeding; Nigeria; Prospective study