TITLE:
Determinants of Breast-Feeding Initiation Time among Newborns Delivered in a Tertiary Baby Friendly Health Facility in Enugu, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Christopher Bismarck Eke, Israel Odutola Odetunde, Samuel Nkachukwu Uwaezuoke, Uzoamaka Vivian Muoneke, Nnamdi Benson Onyire, Uchenna Ekwochi, Chika Nwanma Onwasigwe
KEYWORDS:
Breastfeeding Initiation Time, Newborns, Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.9 No.1,
March
18,
2019
ABSTRACT: Background: The importance of early breastfeeding initiation to both the mother and
infant is enormous as it reduces the likelihood of neonatal mortality as well
as maternal postpartum haemorrhage. The objectives of the study were to
assess the prevalence and determinants of correct breastfeeding initiation time
among newborns delivered at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu. Methods: This was a cross sectional descriptive study. Relevant maternal
and new-born birth characteristics were obtained using a pretested
semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Multivariate logistic
regression was used to determine the factors that are significantly associated
with correct breastfeeding initiation time with the level of significance set
at p Results: A total of 321 mother-newborn
pairs were studied. 86 (26.8%) of the respondents correctly initiated breastfeeding
within 1 hour of delivery. Planned pregnancy, pre-pregnancy decision on infant
feeding options, primiparity, vaginal delivery and breast milk as first food
given to the neonate post-delivery were associated with increased likelihood of
correct breastfeeding initiation time. Conclusion: Correct breastfeeding
initiation time among respondents is low. Planned pregnancy, pre-pregnancy
decision on infant feeding option before pregnancy, primiparity, vaginal
delivery and breast milk as first food given to the neonate after delivery were
associated with having correct breastfeeding initiation time among respondents. Efforts should be made to complement Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative with
baby friendly community initiative in order to improve the rate of correct breastfeeding
initiation time in our setting.