Assessment of Early Initiation of Breastfeeding and Associated Factors Among Mothers in Benishangul Gumuz regional State, North West, Ethiopia: Community Based Cross-Sectional Study.2016

Abstract

Promoting early initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth and exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months of age in early infancy is regarded as crucial components of child survival strategies that could avert up to 13% of deaths among children under 5 years of age. In addition, improved early initiation of breastfeeding appears to be a key in predicting neonatal mortality. Hence, this study aimed to assess prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding and associated factors among mothers of children age less than two years northwest Ethiopia. Method(s): Both quantitative and qualitative community-based cross-sectional study were conducted in seven woreda of Benishangul Gumuz Regional state on 590 infant paired mothers less than two years using simple random sampling. Data was coded, edited, entered into EPi-Info version 3.5.1 and analyzed by using SPSS version 20.0. Both descriptive and multivariable logistic regressions were used for data analysis. Result(s): A total of 770 women were participated with a response rate of 97.7%. The prevalence of early initiation of breast feeding was 53.8%. ANC follow up [AOR=2.02(1.07-3.92)], institutional delivery [AOR=12.18(8.29-17.98)], having adequate knowledge about breast feeding [AOR=1.9(1, 001-2.23)], having adequate knowledge about early initiation of breast feeding [AOR=2.08(1.28-3.39)], were independently associated with early initiation of breast feeding practice. Conclusion(s): Early initiation of breast feeding is low as nearly half the mothers did not start breastfeeding with one hour after delivery and still lower than the national plan. ANC follow up, place of delivery, having adequate knowledge, were the contributing factors early initiation of breast feeding. Increasing maternal knowledge on early initiation of breast feeding by educating the mothers both at community and institutional levels and enhance adequate uterine contraction.Copyright © 2017 iGlobal Research and Publishing Foundation. All rights reserved.