Background and Objectives:

Optimum breast feeding reduces 40-44% of all cause neonatal mortality mainly through exclusive breast feeding (EBF) practice. Even if there are numbers of small scale surveys has been conducted, this review paper is prepared to show overall national trends of breast feeding practice in the country.

Methods:

Relevant literatures on Breast feeding practices were searched using Google, Google scholars, PubMed central using MeSH words: “breast feeding practice in Ethiopia”, “Exclusive breast feeding practice”, “optimum Breast feeding”, and the like. The data from each study was abstracted and entered in to comprehensive met analysis software version 3. Then meta analysis was done using fixed effect model with estimation of breast feeding practices 95% Confidence interval. Eight studies were included in the final analysis using inclusion checklist.

Results: Eight studies were included in the final analysis using inclusion checklist. The overall prevalence of Exclusive breast feeding was found to be 58.5% (95% CI:57% to 60%, P value less than 0.0001). This is also similar with the national estimate on national survey 2016. When compared with 2012, global target for increasing EBF rate to 50% in 2025, this is promising even if some methodological issues may overestimate it. Even if ever breast feeding is almost universal, early initiation of breast feeding is not universal. About 14.2% of children have been given pre lacteal feeding like butter, water with sugar and cow milk. Wrong perception that the child will not get adequate milk, maternal health problems and maternal employment were found to hinder EBF.

Conclusion;

Generally the rate of exclusive breast feeding was promising and early initiation of breast feeding is not universal. Significantly high number of infants are fed with pre lacteal feeding. Many efforts are needed to increase proper IYCF indicators coverage in the country.

Key words: Optimum Breast feeding, Meta analysis, Ethiopia.