Timely initiation of breastfeeding and associated factors among mothers of infants age 0–6 months old in Bahir Dar City, Northwest, Ethiopia, 2017: a community based cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundEarly initiation of breastfeeding, also known as early initiation, is the provision of a mothers own breast milk to her infant within one hour of birth. In Ethiopia, there is a considerable variation in the timely initiation of breastfeeding practices. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the level of timely initiation of breastfeeding and associated factors among mothers of infants less than six months old in Bahir Dar, Northwest, Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Bahir Dar City from April 15 to May 3, 2017. A total of 472 mothers of infant age less than six months were selected by simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were done to know the distribution of variables. To identify predictors logistic regression was conducted.ResultsThe prevalence of timely initiation of breastfeeding was 356 (75.4%). Mothers who birth by a vaginal delivery (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 6.99; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 3.49, 14.00), mothers who gave birth at health institution (AOR 3.36; 95% CI 1.47, 7.67), and who get breastfeeding counseling during antenatal care visits (AOR 5.64; 95% CI 2.70, 11.79) were more likely to initiate breastfeeding within one hour than counterparts.ConclusionsPractice of timely initiation of breastfeeding in this study was suboptimal. Mothers who delivered at the health institution, gave birth by a vaginal delivery, and who got breastfeeding counseling during antenatal visits were the independent predictors of the timely initiation of breastfeeding practice. Encouraging all mothers to give birth in health facilities, counsel mothers to initiate breastfeeding timely at time of Caesarean sections, reduce the indication of the Caesarean procedure and providing breastfeeding counseling during antenatal care visits were recommended. Additionally, health services must establish practices that enable timely breastfeeding whenever possible, in particular, after Caesarean section and systems need to be set up to enable skin-to-skin and timely breastfeeding.

The prevalence and associated factors on timely initiation of breastfeeding among mothers of children age less than 12 months in Wolaita Sodo City, Wolaita, Ethiopia.

“…A mother who gave birth via vaginal delivery was 6.67 times more likely to initiate breastfeeding within one hour than those gave birth via cesarean section. This finding is in line with studies done in Bahiradr (15) and Motta (17) . This may be due to recovery for the mother after cesarean which make it difficult to initiate breastfeeding early.…”

“…The current study showed that mothers who were counseled during antenatal visits were 4.67 times more likely to initiate timely breastfeeding than those who were not counseled during antenatal visits. This finding is consistent with studies done in Ethiopia; Bahiradr (15) and Motta (17) This may be due to mothers who had antenatal visits receive enough information about the importance of early initiation of breastfeeding and have also adequate knowledge about breastfeeding, which may lead to early initiation of breastfeeding compared to women who were not counseled.…”

“…This study revealed that place of delivery was not significantly associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding practices. This finding is inconsistent with study conducted in Debre Birhan (12) ,Bahiradr (15), and Motta (17) ,…”

Three-fourth of children is received early initiation of Breastfeeding in West Belessa District

“…ANC and PNC follow up had more likely to early initiation of breastfeeding their infants than their counterparts. This finding is similar to the report of India (35), Nigeria (36), Uganda (37), pocket area study of Ethiopia (13,38,39). The possible explanation might be due to a mother having attended in critical time might be obtained counseling and support service about recommended feeding practices for neonatal and Infants by the health development army, health extension workers, health professionals from health posts, maternal and child health clinic might be the possible explanation for this.…”

Early initiation of breastfeeding practice and associated factors among mothers of children aged less than six months of old in Mizan-Aman town, southwest Ethiopia, 2018

“…Higher rate of timely initiation of breast feeding was reported from Malawi (76.9%) [21], Bahirdar city (75.4%) [22], Debre Tabor town (76.8%) [23] and Motta town (76.8%) respectively [21,22,23,24]. the difference might be due to methodological difference, socioeconomic, cultural difference and access to health service.…”