Child care practices of Mothers

Ethiopia has one of the highest infant and under five mortality rates. Appropriate childcare practice has a great potential to reduce the occurrence of those life-threatening conditions. Data were collected from 853 mothers in the two communities. Breast-feeding was practiced by 769 (93.6%) of all respondents. Almost all (99.8%) mothers from the indigenous communities initiate breastfeeding within one day as compared to 67.1% of mothers from the migrant communities. Colostrums squeezing and pre lacteal feeding were more practiced by the migrant community than the indigenous communities. During childhood illness only 30.4% of mothers from the indigenous community were sought treatment from appropriate sources as compared to 88.2% from the migrant communities. Conclusion: Still there was a gap between the indigenous and migrant communities in childcare practices. In order to fill such gaps Providing IEC on breastfeeding, appropriate treatment places for childhood illness, ITN utilization, and childhood vaccination and furthers study are recommended.