Analysis of Factors Affecting Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Working Mothers in the Towea Community Health Center Working Area, Towea District, Muna Regency, 2025

Exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life is essential for infant growth and maternal health; however, its coverage among working mothers remains low. This study aimed to analyze factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers in the working area of Towea Public Health Center, Muna Regency. This research employed an observational analytic design with a cross-sectional approach conducted from October to November 2025. The population consisted of 130 working mothers with infants aged 6–12 months, and total sampling was applied. Exclusive breastfeeding was the dependent variable, while independent variables included maternal knowledge, maternal attitude, availability of breastfeeding facilities, support from health workers, and husband’s support. Data were collected using validated and reliable structured questionnaires and analyzed using univariate analysis, simple logistic regression for bivariate analysis, and multiple logistic regression for multivariate analysis. The results showed that only 24.6% of working mothers provided exclusive breastfeeding. Bivariate analysis revealed that the availability of breastfeeding facilities, support from health workers, and husband’s support were significantly associated with exclusive breastfeeding (p < 0.05), whereas maternal knowledge and attitude were not statistically significant. Multivariate analysis identified husband’s support as the most dominant factor influencing exclusive breastfeeding (p = 0.000), with a Nagelkerke R² value of 0.755, indicating that the model explained 75.5% of the variance in exclusive breastfeeding practice. In conclusion, exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers in the study area remains low and is strongly influenced by environmental and social support factors, particularly husband’s support, availability of breastfeeding facilities, and support from health workers. Strengthening workplace policies and family involvement is crucial to improving exclusive breastfeeding coverage.