The Relationship of Knowledge, Practices, and Culture on Low Coverage of Exclusive Breastfeeding

Abstract

Aims: The aims of this study was to analyze the influence of knowledge Practices and,Culture on the low coverage of exclusive breastfeeding. Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding is breastfeeding as early as possible after delivery, given without schedule, and not given other food even if only water until the baby is six months old. Development Agency of the Indonesian Ministry of Health said Exclusive Breastfeeding in Aceh Province is 41.0%, the coverage of breastfeeding in Aceh Province is very low and has not reached the target set by the Indonesian Ministry of Health, which is 80%. West Aceh's exclusive breastfeeding coverage 44%, exclusive breastfeeding coverage is still far from the target. The Meutulang region for two consecutive years still has the same achievement rate of 13.4%. Study Design: Cross-Sectional Survey approach. Location and Duration of Study: Conducted in December 2022 (15 November-20 Desember) in Meutulang District, West Aceh, Aceh, Indonesia. Methods: The population of all mothers who have babies aged 6-12 months. Sampling by the total sampling method, where all polluters were sampled as many as 44 respondents were. Furthermore, the data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate and then tested with a Simple Linear Regression Model. Results: proved that there is an influence of knowledge, action, and culture on the low coverage of exclusive breastfeeding as evidenced by the correlation value (R) of 0.601 and the value of the coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.464, which means that the influence of the independent variable on the dependent variable is 46.4% where the correlation between the independent and dependent variables is in a strong category with value (Pvalue <0.05). Conclusion: There was an influence of knowledge with value (Pvalue 0.011<0.05), value action (Pvalue 0.028<0.05), and value culture (Pvalue 0.000<0.05) on the low coverage of exclusive breastfeeding. Suggestions: There needs to be more intense socialization and enlightenment by relevant officers in terms of mothers' understanding of exclusive breastfeeding so that mothers consider exclusive breastfeeding more important and can analyze the culture around them to give breast milk to their babies at least until the age of 6 months.