Exclusive breastfeeding in Peru and its associated factors: A multivariate regression analysis

Objective: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of exclusive breastfeeding in Peru. Methods: Cross-sectional analytical study, based on the databases of the 2020 Peruvian Family Health Demographic Survey. We included 41 258 women aged 15-49 years who had at least one child in the last 5 years. Pearson’s Chi-square test and the crude prevalence ratio (cPR) and adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) were used for the bivariate analysis; and Poisson regression was used for the multivariate analysis. The STATA version 14 program was used. Results: Exclusive breastfeeding had a prevalence of 70.43%. The sociodemographic factors associated were being from the highlands [aPR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.35-1.43] and rural area [aPR: 1,95; IC95 %: 1,93-1,96]. Regarding obstetric factors, exclusive breastfeeding training [aPR: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.03-1.06] increases the probability of compliance, while excessive bleeding in labor [aPR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.94-0.99] and postpartum breast infection [aPR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.91-0.97] reduce it. Among neonatal factors, having a macrosomic child and early initiation of breastfeeding [aPR: 0.73; 95%CI: 0.68-0.80] are associated with exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusions: In Peru, exclusive breastfeeding has a high prevalence, moreover, its success is significantly associated with different sociodemographic, obstetric and neonatal factors.