The failure to adhere to exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) has resulted in over 1.4 million deaths globally within the first 6 months of life, with 41% occurring in sub-Saharan Africa and 34% in South Asia (1–3). As reported by the Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey (EDHS) in 2016, the overall prevalence of EBF practices was 58%. Additionally, the median duration of EBF in the Benishangul-Gumuz region was determined to be 4.6 months. The 2016 EDHS findings also revealed neonatal, infant, and under-5 mortality rates of 29, 48, and 67 deaths per 1,000 live births, respectively (4). Despite variations in EBF practice prevalence across different regions, the aggregated prevalence of EBF in Ethiopia was calculated at 59.3% (5).

Different studies showed that there is inconclusive and varying EBF coverage and contributing factors (6–8). Recent studies have suggested an association between symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) and the early discontinuation of EBF (9). PPD is a non-psychotic form of depression that manifests within the first 12 months after childbirth. The symptoms closely resemble those of depression, which can affect anyone, regardless of childbirth (10). It is a form of depression that impacts approximately 1 in 10 new mothers within the initial year following childbirth. It has the potential to adversely affect a new mother’s health and her capacity to provide nurturing care to her infant.

The burden of PPD in African American women ranges from 10 to 15% (11). While research on the perinatal mental health of women in low and middle-income countries has gained attention more recently, it has historically taken a backseat to the primary focus on preventing pregnancy-related complications (12). The pooled prevalence of PPD in 53 low- and middle-income countries was 19% (13). Moreover, 18.3% were reported by the two African systematic reviews (14), which is as high as those reported in other developed countries (15). Recent Ethiopian studies have reported PPD prevalence to range from 12.2 to 22.1% in rural areas (16, 17) and 9.27 to 33.2% (18–21) in urban areas.

PPD is the most common complication of childbirth (22), a leading cause of disability (23), linked to a weakened mother-infant bond, potentially leading to prolonged effects on the emotional and cognitive growth of the infant (24) worldwide. It contributes to increased costs for the healthcare system and can have a negative impact on the workforce economy. Moreover, depressed women have been reported to face challenges in efficient breastfeeding, exhibit reduced utilization of available health services (25, 26), experience negative postnatal birth experiences (27), and demonstrate negative impacts on maternal interaction with their newborns (28). In light of these multifaceted challenges, addressing PPD and fostering EBF not only bolsters maternal and infant wellbeing but also has economic implications for the healthcare sector and the broader economy (29). Noteworthy initiatives underscore the commitment to maternal and child health in Ethiopia. The establishment of the National Nutrition Programme and the National Guideline on Adolescent, Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition in 2013 (30) symbolizes a concerted effort to uphold international standards, foster appropriate feeding practices and caregiving approaches, and foster a brighter future for mothers and children in the country.

Enhancing nutritional education, integrating maternal mental health into regular maternal healthcare services, providing psychotherapy support while breastfeeding may have more impact than routine counseling, offering financial assistance to mothers with low income, and providing health education to multiparous women are crucial interventions to enhance appropriate infant feeding practices (31, 32).

While Ethiopia has witnessed a gradual increase in EBF prevalence, suboptimal EBF practices persist as a significant contributor to child mortality in the country. Concurrently, PPD emerges as a notable public health concern, negatively impacting a new mother’s health and her ability to provide nurturing care to her infant. Despite the lack of substantial evidence in Ethiopia and the study areas regarding the impact of PPD on EBF practices, this study endeavors to fill this gap. EBF has been encouraged for mothers who deliver at healthcare facilities. Yet, diagnosing PPD in the community remains challenging without severe cases being identified by healthcare professionals at these facilities. This study was conducted to shed light on this community issue. The primary objective is to investigate the interconnected relationship between PPD and EBF practices, along with exploring other pertinent factors, in Assosa Town, Benishangul-Gumuz Region, West Ethiopia.

This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Assosa Town, Benishangul-Gumuz Region, West Ethiopia, from 7 March to 5 April 2019. Assosa zone is one of the three zones in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State. It is situated 665 kilometers from Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, with an elevation ranging from 580 to 1,668 meters above sea level. The Mao-Komo special woreda borders Assosa Town to the south, Sudan to the west, and the Kamashi zone to the northeast. The zone’s population, consisting of various ethnic groups, was estimated to be 477,852 people based on the 2007 census data, with 6,000 identified as breastfeeding women. In the latest data available, it was indicated that approximately 151,890 are women of reproductive age. Among them, 804 mothers gave birth at a health facility (24).

This study investigated PPD and associated factors related to EBF practices among lactating mothers in Assosa Town. The findings revealed that only 58.2% of mothers practiced EBF for the first 6 months of their child’s life. Moreover, the prevalence of EBF practices was higher among mothers without PPD (54%) than among PPD mothers (4.2%). Notably, the prevalence of EBF in this study was higher than reported rates in studies conducted in Tigray, Addis Ababa, Gojjam, and Somaliland, where EBF rates were documented as 26.9, 29.3, 50.1, and 20.47%, respectively (6–8, 38). The variations in EBF rates across different regions could be attributed to socioeconomic and cultural differences in infant feeding practices. Additionally, disparities may arise from the varying levels of emphasis and effort that countries dedicate to promoting EBF. Cultural norms, healthcare infrastructure, and awareness campaigns can significantly influence the prevalence of EBF in different parts of the world. In contrast, this study found a smaller prevalence of EBF compared with studies carried out in Hawassa, Wolaita, Goba, and Dire Dawa, which were 60.9, 64.8, 71.3, and 81.1%, respectively (39–42). The differences observed in our research findings may be attributed to variations in the study area, sample size, sociocultural factors, economic conditions, and the implementation of EBF practices. These diverse factors can contribute to discrepancies in the prevalence and promotion of EBF in different research contexts.

This study revealed that there was a negative association between EBF and PPD. This finding is in line with studies conducted in Brazil (43), Bangladesh (44), China (45), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (46). The observed association between PPD and lower EBF rates could be attributed to the potential detrimental impact of PPD on a mother’s self-esteem and memory. These effects may contribute to a shorter duration of breastfeeding and negative postnatal birth experiences, ultimately influencing maternal interaction with their newborns. The psychological and emotional challenges associated with PPD may influence a mother’s ability and willingness to engage in sustained breastfeeding practices. Moreover, women experiencing depression are more likely to have insufficient interactions with their newborns, including reduced touching, sensitivity, and skin-to-skin contact. These factors can increase the likelihood of encountering breastfeeding difficulties. The emotional and psychological state of a depressed mother may impact her ability to establish and maintain positive bonding experiences with her infant, potentially influencing the breastfeeding journey.

We need to acknowledge that the association between PPD and EBF is uncertain. Some studies support that it is PPD that decreases the success of breastfeeding; however, others argue that the discontinuation of breastfeeding leads to a higher risk of experiencing PPD (47–49). Further research and personalized care can shed more light on how these factors interplay and how best to support mothers in managing PPD and achieving successful breastfeeding practices.

In this study, infants born to mothers in the middle wealth index were found to be more likely to practice EBF than those born to mothers in the lowest wealth index. This finding is consistent with previous studies undertaken in Bahir Dar (34), Kenya (50), Ghana (51), Nigeria (52), India (53), and Australia (54). The observed association may be due to higher-income mothers having more access to different information that can help them better understand the benefits of EBF. This finding, however, contradicts the earlier research conducted in Addis Ababa (7), East Gojjam (8), and Bangladesh (44). These variations may be the result of socioeconomic and demographic differences between the regions.

Similarly, mothers who have their husband’s support had higher odds of practicing EBF than their counterparts. The finding is similar to the prior studies conducted in East Gojjam, Ethiopia (8), the United Kingdom (55), Nepal (56), and Vietnam (57). The explanation for this may be that the husband’s involvement is important in family and household decision-making, as well as many other aspects of family life, including infant feeding practices. Moreover, the odds of practicing EBF were higher among multiparous than primiparous mothers. This result is similar to that of the studies undertaken in Malawi (58) and Indonesia (59). The explanation for this may be that multiparous mothers are more likely to practice EBF because they have prior breastfeeding experience.

Likewise, in this study, receiving ANC was positively associated with EBF practice. This finding is supported by studies carried out in Bahir Dar (34), Tanzania (60), Nigeria (52), Malawi (58), and India (53). This indicates that the ANC has a substantial influence on EBF. As a result, mothers who follow an ANC visit may have a strong chance to receive nutritional counseling and education about infant feeding, which includes EBF. Besides, this study revealed that mothers who gave birth vaginally were more likely than those who had a cesarean section to exclusively breastfeed their babies. This finding is consistent with a study from Bahir Dar (34), Hawassa (39), Nigeria (52), and Nepal (57). The reason could be that timely hospital discharge and reconnection with the families of vaginally delivered mothers can make postnatal care simpler and increase the chances of practicing EBF. In addition, the mother’s pain caused her to delay giving the baby breast milk and instead use formula or cow milk as a first option.

The strengths of this study comprise the fact that respondents were enrolled using the probability sampling technique to maintain the representativeness of the study, which made it community-based, and various methods were used to maintain the quality of data.

However, there are some limitations to this study. First, this study used a cross-sectional study design, making causal associations difficult to establish. Second, the result was determined by self-report; recall and social desirability bias may have affected the underestimation or overestimation of the correlation between the dependent and the independent variables. Moreover, the generalizability of the findings to other populations or regions may be limited due to cultural, socioeconomic, and healthcare system differences. Future research could benefit from including a more diverse sample or conducting similar studies in different settings.

In conclusion, the prevalence of EBF was found to be low, contrasting with international recommendations advocating for EBF for children under the age of 6 months. Additionally, the study identified an association between PPD and EBF practices. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and support to promote optimal breastfeeding practices, particularly in the context of maternal mental health. Owing to a medium level of income, being multiparous, having an ANC visit, vaginal delivery, receiving husband’s support, and experiencing PPD were independently associated factors of EBF. Hence, it is imperative to intensify efforts toward early detection and treatment of PPD, enhancing household income, promoting ANC, and encouraging active husband involvement to enhance EBF practices. Additionally, future research with robust study designs should be undertaken to comprehensively explore the diverse underlying factors influencing EBF. This will contribute to a more nuanced understanding and inform targeted strategies to improve breastfeeding practices.

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

The studies involving humans were approved by Jimma University Institutional Review Board. The studies were conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. The participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study.

AbA: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. YM: Formal analysis, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. HH: Formal analysis, Supervision, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. HM: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. MJ: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. MA: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. AK: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. TM: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. BB: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. EA: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. AnA: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. BekM: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. BehM: Supervision, Software, Writing – review & editing. SK: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. KA: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Supervision, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing.