Skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding practices in Nigeria: a study of socioeconomic inequalities

International Breastfeeding Journal

Michael Ekholuenetale¹  Amadou Barrow²  Amit Arora³ 

[1] Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria;Department of Public & Environmental Health, School of Medicine & Allied Health Sciences, University of The Gambia, Kanifing, The Gambia;School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Locked Bag 1797, 2751, Penrith, NSW, Australia;Health Equity Laboratory, 2560, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia;Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, 2751, Penrith, NSW, Australia;Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, 2145, Westmead, NSW, Australia;Oral Health Services, Sydney Local Health District and Sydney Dental Hospital, NSW Health, 2010, Surry Hills, NSW, Australia;

关键词: Breastfeeding;    Early initiation of breastfeeding;    Infant feeding;    Skin-to-skin contact (SSC);    Socioeconomic inequalities;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13006-021-00444-7

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe effects of breastfeeding practices on children’s health are undoubtedly of great interest. However, inequalities in breastfeeding practices and mother and newborn skin-to-skin contact (SSC) exist in many resource-constrained settings. This study examined the regional prevalence and socioeconomic inequalities in exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), early initiation of breastfeeding and SSC in Nigeria.MethodsData on 2936 infants under six months were extracted from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) to determine EBF. In addition, data on 21,569 children were analysed for early initiation of breastfeeding and SSC. Concentration index and curves were used to measure socioeconomic inequalities in EBF, early initiation of breastfeeding and SSC.ResultsThe prevalence of EBF, early initiation of breastfeeding and SSC were 31.8, 44.2 and 12.1% respectively. Furthermore, Ogun state had the highest prevalence of EBF (71.4%); while Bayelsa state had the highest prevalence of SSC (67.8%) and early initiation of breastfeeding (96.2%) respectively. Urban dwellers had higher prevalence of EBF, SSC and early initiation of breastfeeding across household wealth quintile and by levels of mothers’ education in contrast to their rural counterparts. We quantified inequalities in early initiation of breastfeeding, EBF, and SSC according to household wealth and maternal education. The study outcomes had greater coverage in higher household wealth, in contrast to the lower household wealth groups; early initiation of breastfeeding (concentration index = 0.103; p = 0.002), EBF (concentration index = 0.118; p < 0.001), and SSC (concentration index = 0.152; p < 0.001) respectively. Furthermore, early initiation of breastfeeding (concentration index = 0.091; p < 0.001), EBF (concentration index = 0.157; p < 0.001) and SSC (concentration index = 0.156; p < 0.001) had greater coverage among mothers with higher educational attainment.ConclusionLow prevalence and socioeconomic inequalities in early initiation of breastfeeding, EBF and SSC were identified. We recommend that health promotion programs targeted and co-designed with disadvantaged mothers are critical to meet global breastfeeding targets. Also, future researchers should conduct further studies especially clinical control trials and qualitative studies to unravel the possible reasons for differences in the indicators.

【 授权许可】

CC BY