Abstract
Muya health zone, the practice of breastfeeding remains insufficient, contributing to the persistence of malnutrition and childhood illnesses. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with the interruption of breastfeeding among mothers of children aged 6 to 23 months. This was a cross-sectional analytical study using a quantitative approach, conducted with 422 mothers of children aged 6 to 23 months. Participants were selected using multi-stage probability sampling: random selection of health districts, then avenues, households, and finally one eligible mother per household. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Associations were assessed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results are expressed as odds ratios with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The threshold for statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. This study highlights the crucial role of maternal beliefs, family support, and health services in maintaining healthy infant feeding practices. It recommends strengthening prenatal and postnatal counseling, community awareness activities, and family involvement to sustainably improve infant feeding practices and contribute to reducing child malnutrition in the Muya health zone .
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