Abstract
BackgroundEarly initiation of breastfeeding is a simple and cost effective intervention to advance the health of mothers and newborns. The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recommend that breastfeeding should be initiated within one hour of birth. The aim of this study is to identify factors associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding among mothers in Ethiopia within one hour of birth.MethodsThis study used data from the 2011 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey. A total of 11,654 households were included in the analysis from 11 administrative states of Ethiopia. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models with adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were used to quantify predictors of early breastfeeding initiation.ResultsThe overall prevalence of timely breastfeeding initiation was 52 % (95 % CI: 51.09, 52.91). The prevalence was higher in urban settings (61.4 %; 95 % CI: 58.85, 63.85) than in rural areas (52.3 %; 95 % CI: 51.33, 53.28). The highest prevalence was found in Addis Ababa 71.5 % (95 % CI: 64.88, 77.12) while the lowest prevalence was 41.7 % (95 % CI: 36.62, 47.00) in Somali regional state. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that rural mothers had 39 % lower odds of timely breastfeeding initiation (AOR 0.61; 95 % CI: 0.50, 0.76) compared to urban mothers. Mothers who had secondary education or higher had 60 % higher odds of timely breastfeeding initiation (AOR 1.6; 95 % CI: 1.02, 2.44) than never educated mothers. Mothers who had caesarian deliveries had 61 % lower odds of timely breastfeeding initiation (AOR 0.39; 95 % CI: 0.22, 0.71) compared to vaginal deliveries. Working mothers were 23 % less likely to timely initiate breastfeeding (AOR 0.77; 95 % CI: 0.69, 0.85) compared to housewives. Female infants had a 20 % higher chance of timely breastfeeding initiation (AOR 1.2; 95 % CI: 1.05, 1.30) compared to male infants.ConclusionEarly initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour after birth was not optimal in Ethiopia. Factors such as place of residence, educational level, occupation, gender of the newborn and type of delivery should be considered in any intervention program in order to enhance timely breastfeeding initiation.
Highlights
Initiation of breastfeeding is a simple and cost effective intervention to advance the health of mothers and newborns
The prevalence of timely breastfeeding initiation in urban setting was 61.4 % and 52.3 % in rural areas. Among those mothers who delivered by caesarian section, about 45.6 % of mothers practiced timely breastfeeding initiation
Mothers who have first birth order and were aware of community conversation program had less than 50 % prevalence of timely breastfeeding initiation
Summary
Initiation of breastfeeding is a simple and cost effective intervention to advance the health of mothers and newborns. Initiation of breastfeeding is a simple and cost effective intervention that benefits the health of both mothers and newborns. Timely breastfeeding initiation is considered as breastfeeding initiated within the first hour of birth. It is during the first 30–60 minutes after birth that the sucking reflex of babies is most active and babies are more alert [1]. Breastfeeding initiation is interrelated with early contact that is important for mother-to-infant relationships and has positive effects on duration of breastfeeding [2]
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