The Effect of Health Problems at Birth on Breastfeeding: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Third Step Hospital

Abstract

Objective:The health status at birth can affect infant's ability to start suckling and the breastfeeding process. The aim of this study is to compare the process of starting and continuing breastfeeding of healthy babies and infants born with health problems and also to evaluate the effect of health problems at birth on breastfeeding.Method: 460 mothers with infants between 6-24 months of age who admitted to the pediatric outpatient clinics were enrolled in the study.Results: It was found that 19.2% health problems at birth. Among healthy babies the rate of breastfeeding as first nutrition and breastfeeding in first hour after delivery was found to be 82% and 67% respectively. These rates were 49.5% and 32.3% in infants born with health problems, respectively (p <0.001). The rate of breastfeeding in healthy babies for the first six months of life was 39.9% and this rate was very low in babies born with health problems (23.2%) (p <0.001).It was found that 31.9% of infants born with health problems were feed by formula in the first month and 67% within six months. In the study, 59.9% of healthy babies and 39.6% of babies born with health problems continued to receive breast milk (p <0.001). Conclusions:It was found that being born with health problems delays the time to start breastfeeding, increases the risk of feeding with formula in the first month and in the first six months of age, and adversely affects the continuation of breastfeeding.