Factors associated with breastfeeding in the first hour of life in a baby-friendly hospital

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the factors associated with the practice of breastfeeding in the first hour after delivery. Method: a quantitative cross-sectional study whose sample consisted of 244 postpartum women hospitalized at the Obstetric Wards and Rooming-in Wards at the Hospital das Clínicas, Recife, Brazil. Results: the rate of breastfeeding in the first hour of life was 28.7%. Among sociodemographic variables, not one presented a protective factor for breastfeeding in the first hour postpartum with p-value>0.05. By adjusting the final Poisson model, it was observed that the factors associated with this practice were the presence of the nurse in the delivery room (p <0.001), the weight of the newborn being equal to or greater than three kilos (p 0.05) and skin-to-skin contact between mother and child (p 0.003). Conclusion: in the first hour of life after delivery, the practice of breastfeeding fell short of what is recommended by the World Health Organization, despite the institution considered as a baby-friendly hospital. The main factors associated with this practice were vaginal delivery, the nurse, and skin-to-skin contact between mother and child.