Determinants of early initiation of breastfeeding in Ghana: a population-based cross-sectional study using the 2014 Demographic and Health Survey data

Abstract

Background The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that breastfeeding should be initiated within the first hour of delivery followed by exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months. This study examined the determinants of early initiation of breastfeeding in Ghana using data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Methods A sample size of 4219 was used for the study. Descriptive statistics was conducted to ascertain the proportion of children who had early initiation of breastfeeding after which binary logistic regression analysis was carried out. Results were presented using frequencies, percentages, unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios. Statistical significance was pegged at p<0.05. Results Children of first birth order [AOR = 0.71, CI = 0.61–0.84], those who were delivered by non-professionals [AOR = 0.51, CI = 0.30–0.88] and those whose mothers were Traditionalists [AOR = 0.65, CI = 0.46–0.92] and Mole-Dagbanis [AOR = 0.69, CI = 0.54–0.89] were less likely to go through early initiation of breastfeeding compared to those of 2–4 birth order, those who were delivered by health professionals, those whose mothers were Christians and Akan, respectively. Conversely, children born to mothers who read newspaper/magazine at least once a week were more likely to go through early initiation of breastfeeding, compared to those who never read newspaper/magazine [AOR = 1.40, CI = 1.01–1.95]. Children born to mothers who watched television less than once a week were more likely to go through early initiation of breastfeeding compared to those who watched television at least once a week [AOR = 1.40, CI = 1.01–1.95]. Finally, women from the Northern [AOR = 2.40, CI = [1.77–3.26] and Upper East regions [AOR = 2.57, CI = [1.86–3.56] practiced early initiation of breastfeeding compared to those from the Ashanti region. Conclusions Empowering healthcare providers to be consistent in early breastfeeding initiation advocacy and effective community engagement on the need to embrace and practice early initiation of breastfeeding can improve the situation.

Factors associated with delayed initiation of breastfeeding in health facilities: secondary analysis of Bangladesh demographic and health survey 2014

“…Exposure to mass media in the form of listening to the radio, watching television and reading newspaper is linked to early initiation of breastfeeding [ 43 ]. Findings in this study suggest that exposure to any form of mass media once a week or more would to reduce the odds delaying breastfeeding initiation.…”

Socioeconomic and Geographic Pattern of Food Consumption and Dietary Diversity among Children Aged 6–23 Months Old in Ghana

“…The GSS, GHS, and NPHRL received technical assistance from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) through DHS programs [ 54 ]. The ICF Macro Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the Ghana Health Service Ethics Review Committee received ethical clearance from the National Public Health Reference Laboratory of the GHS and Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research all in Ghana before GDHS-14 was carried out [ 57 ]. The ethical committees received written informed consent from the study participants before the interview.…”

Assessment of Feeding Habits and Nutritional Status of Infants Admitted in Kumba Hospitals (South-West Region, Cameroon)

“…These results are contrary to those obtained in Cameroon in the Bangang community of the west region of Cameroon [11] where the prevalence of early initiation of breast milk was quite low. According to studies, the prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding places Ghana above some lowand middle-income countries such as Nepal where a recent national survey reported 41.8% breastfeeding initiation within the first 1 hour of delivery [22,23]. The type of feeding before 6 months illustrated in Fig.…”