Factors Associated with Timely Initiation of Breast Feeding: a Hospital Based Study

Abstract

Background: Early or timely initiation of breastfeeding, specifically within 1 h of birth, refers to the best practice recommendation by the World Health Organization (WHO). Timely initiation of breastfeeding has the potential to prevent 22 % of neonatal deaths if all infants were breastfed within an hour after birth [1]. The primary objective of the paper is to estimate the prevalence of breast feeding initiation within first hour of life and the clinical correlates and socio demographic factors. Material and methods: This study was conducted at PSG Institute of Medical Science and Research, Coimbatore in the month of July 2018. Mothers with the children age below four years attending paediatric outpatient department were included in the study. Multivariate logistic analysis was usedto determine the factors associated with timely initiation breastfeeding practice. Results: The prevalence of timely initiation of breastfeeding within one hour was 56.5%. It was observed that the caesarean delivery, preterm delivery, sick condition of the baby, earlier breast surgery, lack of counselling after delivery and lack of skin to skin contact at birth were negatively associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding within one hour. Conclusion: The findings clearly indicated that nearly half of the mothers did not initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth.