Maternal and child factors associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding in sub-Saharan Africa

International Breastfeeding Journal

Francis Sambah¹  Eugene Budu²  Joseph Kojo Oduro²  Linus Baatiema²  Francis Appiah³  Abdul-Aziz Seidu⁴  Edward Kwabena Ameyaw⁵  Bright Opoku Ahinkorah⁵ 

[1]Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

[2]College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

[3]Department of Population and Health, College of Humanities and Legal Studies, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

[4]Department of Population and Health, College of Humanities and Legal Studies, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

[5]Berekum College of Education, Berekum, Bono Region, Ghana

[6]Department of Population and Health, College of Humanities and Legal Studies, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana

[7]College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

[8]Department of Estate Management, Takoradi Technical University, Takoradi, Ghana

[9]Faculty of Health, School of Public Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia

关键词: Maternal and child factors;    Timely initiation of breastfeeding;    SSA;    DHS;    Maternal health;    Global health;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13006-021-00402-3

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe probability of not breastfeeding within the first hour after delivery (timely initiation of breastfeeding) is particularly pronounced in sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we examined the maternal and child factors associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding in sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsWe pooled data from 29 sub-Saharan African countries’ Demographic and Health Surveys conducted from 2010 to 2018. A total of 60,038 childbearing women were included. Frequencies, percentages, and binary logistic regression analyses were carried out. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the maternal and child factors associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding and the results were presented as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) at 95% confidence interval (CI). ResultsWe found a prevalence of 55.81% of timely initiation of breastfeeding in the sub-region. The country with the highest prevalence of timely initiation of breastfeeding was Burundi (86.19%), whereas Guinea had the lowest prevalence (15.17%). The likelihood of timely initiation of breastfeeding was lower among married women, compared to never married women (aOR 0.91; 95% CI 0.85, 0.98); working women compared to non-working women (aOR 0.90; 95% CI 0.87, 0.93); women who watched television at least once a week, compared to those who never watched television (aOR 0.74; 95% CI 0.70, 0.78); women who delivered through caesarean section, compared to vaginal birth (aOR 0.30; 95% CI 0.27, 0.32); and those with multiple births, compared to those with single births (aOR 0.67; 95% CI 0.59, 0.76). Women who lived in Central Africa were less likely to initiate breastfeeding timely compared to those who lived in West Africa (aOR 0.80; 95% CI 0.75, 0.84).ConclusionsThe findings call for the need for a behavioural change communication programmes, targeted at timely initiation of breastfeeding, to reverse and close the timely initiation of breastfeeding gaps stratified by the maternal and child factors. Prioritising policies to enhance timely initiation of breastfeeding is needed, particularly among Cental African countries where timely initiation of breastfeeding remains a challenge. Sufficient supportive care, especially for mothers with multiple births and those who undergo caesarean section, is needed to resolve timely initiation of breastfeeding inequalities.

【 授权许可】

CC BY