Timely Initiation of Breastfeeding and Associated Factors among Mothers of Infants Attending pediatric Department at Yekatit12 Hospital Medical College Addis Ababa Ethiopia 2019G.C

Abstract

Introduction: Timely initiation of breastfeeding is defined as putting the newborn to the breast within one hour of birth. Timely initiation of breastfeeding has a major contribution to the survival of newborns. In developing countries, early initiation of breastfeeding could save as many as 1.45 million lives each year. However, there is paucity of data about it. This study aimed at assessing timely initiation of breastfeeding and associated factors among mothers of infants attending pediatric department at yekatit12 hospital medical college.

Methods: An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted from June to July, 2019. A total of 228 mother-infant pairs were included in this study. The data were collected using face to face interview. Both bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding. The results were presented using descriptive and analytic analyses. P-values<0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: prevalence of timely initiation of breastfeeding in Addis Ababa Yekatit 12 Hospital was 69.7%. place of delivery home (AOR = 6.19; 95 CI = 1.43, 9.29), ANC follow up (AOR = 5.73;95 CI=3.94,8.68) and mothernal health condition immediately after delivery(AOR = 1.267; 95 CI = 1.062, 3.54) were significantly associated with  timely initiation of breastfeeding.

Conclusions: in this study timely initiation of breast feeding was less as planned   set by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health’s Health Sector Development Program Four (HSDP-IV). Strengthening timely initiation of breastfeeding through provision of antenatal care services, educating mothers and strengthening health professional’s knowledge, and skills on breastfeeding counseling were recommended.

Keywords: Timely initiation;Breast feeding ; yekatit 12 hospital medical collage

DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/68-02

Publication date:September 30^th 2020