Early initiation of breastfeeding and associated factors among post-natal mothers in selected healthcare sectors, Rohtas, Bihar

Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding is the best natural feeding and breast milk is the best milk. The basic food of an infant is the mother’s milk. The study aimed to determine the estimated time of breastfeeding initiation among normal delivery mothers, identify the contribution factor for delayed initiation of breastfeeding among normal delivery mothers, and to find out the association between the selected demographic variables and initiation timing of breastfeeding. Methods: The present study constituted a cross-sectional research design, involving 100 postnatal mothers from selected healthcare centers. A purposive sampling technique was employed to select the participants, and a semi-structured questionnaire was utilized to collect the data. The data was gathered through a self-administered questionnaire. Subsequently, inferential statistics, such as chi-square, were applied to determine the objective and hypothesis of the study. Results: In the research, it was found that 56% of mothers-initiated breastfeeding within the first hour after giving birth. Furthermore, 30% of mothers-initiated breastfeeding between 1 and 24 hours, and 14% initiated breastfeeding 24 hours after giving birth. The study also revealed a categorical association (as determined via chi-square test, p value <0.005) between the timing of breastfeeding and certain socio-demographic factors, such as the occupational status of mothers (χ2=11.65, p value <0.005), their educational level (χ2=17.7, p value <0.005), and the family’s monthly income (χ2=13.7, p value <0.005). Conclusions: Adopting breastfeeding-friendly policies at scale and utilizing monitoring data to increase accountability and improve service delivery can significantly reduce delayed breastfeeding initiation.