en تخصصي Special پژوهشي Research <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="color:#009999;"><strong>Background and Objective:</strong></span> Although awareness of the importance of breast milk and breastfeeding has increased, the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of an infant&#39;s life is not optimal. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of exclusive breastfeeding and factors affecting it among infants under 6 months of age in Bushehr, Iran.<br> <span style="color:#009999;"><strong>Methods:</strong></span> This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018 on 403 mothers whose children were under one year of age and referred to health centers in Bushehr Iran. Ten health centers were randomly selected as a sample. Participants completed a questionnaire providing demographic information, information on exclusive breastfeeding and reasons for discontinuation of breastfeeding. Data were analyzed using SPSS software at a significance level of 0.05.<br> <span style="color:#009999;"><strong>Findings:</strong></span> The frequency of exclusive breastfeeding in this study was 33.7%. Maternal literacy level (P<0.001), father&#39;s employment (P=0.018) and the interval between pregnancies (P=0.041) were significantly related to exclusive breastfeeding. The most common reasons for discontinuing exclusive breastfeeding were advice from others (31.9%), infant crying (19%) and mother&#39;s perception that her milk was not enough (14.1%).<br> <span style="color:#009999;"><strong>Conclusion:</strong> </span>The results of this study showed that the frequency of exclusive breastfeeding was low in Bushehr. The main reasons for discontinuing exclusive breastfeeding were the advice of others and the mother&#39;s mistaken belief that her milk was insufficient. Educational programs to promote breastfeeding should involve not only mothers,&nbsp;but also other caregivers of infants.</span></span></div> Milk, Human, Breastfeeding, Exclusive, Infants 576 583 http://caspianjp.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-194-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Saeedeh Firouzbakht s.firouzbakht@bpums.ac.ir 10031947532846003009 10031947532846003009 Yes Assistant Professor, Pediatrician, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences Rezvan Hayati Rezvan.hayati@yahoo.com 10031947532846003010 10031947532846003010 No General Practitioner, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences Kamran Mirzaei Kamram.mirzaei@gmail.com 10031947532846003011 10031947532846003011 No Associate Professor, Social Physician, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences Mojgan Firouzbakht firouzbakht_m@yahoo.com 10031947532846003012 10031947532846003012 No Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing- Midwifery, Comprehensive Health Research Center, Babol Branch, Isalamic Azad University, Babol, Iran