THE RELATIONSHIP OF PARITY, MATERNAL AGE, AND MODE OF DELIVERY WITH EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING AMONG POSTPARTUM MOTHERS AT BUNDA SETIA CLINIC, TABANAN

Abstrak

Background. Exclusive breastfeeding is a key intervention for reducing infant morbidity and supporting maternal postpartum recovery, yet its coverage remains suboptimal. Maternal factors such as parity, age, and mode of delivery are thought to be associated with breastfeeding success; however, evidence at the primary-care facility level remains limited. This study aimed to analyse the relationship of parity, maternal age, and mode of delivery with exclusive breastfeeding among postpartum mothers at Bunda Setia Clinic, Tabanan.

Methods. An analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted using secondary medical-record data of postpartum mothers for the period 2024–2025. Total sampling yielded 63 eligible mothers who met the inclusion criteria. The independent variables were parity, maternal age, and mode of delivery, and the dependent variable was exclusive breastfeeding. Univariate analysis was used to describe frequency distributions, whereas bivariate analysis employed the chi-square test and Fisher's exact test where the chi-square assumptions were not met, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Results. Forty-five of the 63 mothers (71.4%) practised exclusive breastfeeding. The mean maternal age was 28.8 ± 5.1 years (range 19–41). Most mothers were multiparous (73.0%), and all mothers (100%) delivered vaginally. Maternal age was significantly associated with exclusive breastfeeding: the proportion of exclusive breastfeeding was markedly lower among mothers of high-risk reproductive age (<20 or >35 years) than among those aged 20–35 years (28.6% vs 76.8%; Fisher's exact test p = 0.017). Parity showed no significant association (p = 0.820). The relationship between mode of delivery and exclusive breastfeeding could not be tested owing to the absence of variation in the data, as all deliveries were vaginal.

Conclusion. Maternal age was significantly associated with exclusive breastfeeding, whereas parity was not. Mothers of high-risk reproductive age require strengthened lactation counselling and support. Further research with adequate variation in mode of delivery and multivariable analysis is warranted.