Coverage and factors associated with mother and newborn skin-to-skin contact in Nigeria: a multilevel analysis

Michael Ekholuenetale,Faith Owunari Benebo,Amadou Barrow,Ashibudike Francis Idebolo

doi:10.1186/s12884-021-04079-8

Abstract

BackgroundMother and newborn skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is an immediate postpartum intervention known to improve the health of newborn and mothers alike. Albeit, there is paucity of data that explored the coverage or factors associated with SSC in Nigeria. Therefore, we aimed to explore the coverage and hierarchical nature of the factors associated with SSC among women of reproductive age in Nigeria.MethodsThe 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) data was used for this study. Data on 29,992 women who had ever given birth were extracted for analysis. SSC was the outcome variable as determined by women’s report. A multivariable multilevel logistic regression model was used to estimate the fixed and random effects of the factors associated with SSC. Statistical significance was determined at p< 0.05.ResultsThe coverage of SSC was approximately 12.0%. Educated women had higher odds of SSC, when compared with women with no formal education. Those who delivered through caesarean section (CS) had 88% reduction in SSC, when compared with women who had vaginal delivery (OR= 0.12; 95%CI: 0.07, 0.22). Women who delivered at health facility were 15.58 times as likely to practice SSC, when compared with those who delivered at home (OR= 15.58; 95%CI: 10.64, 22.82). Adequate ANC visits and low birth weight significantly increased the odds of SSC. Women from richest household were 1.70 times as likely to practice SSC, when compared with women from poorest household (OR= 1.70; 95%CI: 1.04, 2.79). There was 65% reduction in SSC among women with high rate of community non-use of media, when compared with women from low rate of community non-use of media (OR= 0.35; 95%CI: 0.20, 0.61).ConclusionSSC coverage was low in Nigeria. Moreover, individual, household and community level factors were associated with SSC. More enlightenment should be created among women to bring to limelight the importance of SSC specifically to newborn’s health.

Highlights

About 2.5 million newborn die in their first month of life, accounting for 47% of under-five death [1]
Women who delivered at health facility were 15.59 times as likely to practice skin-to-skin contact (SSC), when compared to those who delivered at home (OR= 15.59; 95%CI: 10.41, 23.36)
Results from Model III showed that women from higher household wealth quintiles were more likely to practice SSC, when compared with the poorest women

Summary

Introduction

About 2.5 million newborn die in their first month of life, accounting for 47% of under-five death [1]. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that after delivery, every newborn should receive immediate newborn care, which includes thermal care, hygienic cord care and early initiation of breastfeeding [3]. Physiological stability, thermoregulation, blood glucose, early breastfeeding initiation could be higher in newborns exposed to SSC. SSC is beneficial to mothers with postpartum depressive symptoms as it reduces maternal anxiety and enhances bonding and caregiving behaviour towards the newborn [4]. Mother and newborn skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is an immediate postpartum intervention known to improve the health of newborn and mothers alike. There is paucity of data that explored the coverage or factors associated with SSC in Nigeria.

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Discussion

Conclusion