Topical Area: Nutritional Epidemiology
Objectives :
This study investigates the factors associated with delayed initiation of breastfeeding among hospital deliveries in Bangladesh, where only 50% women initiate breastfeeding within the 1st hour of birth and the rate is lower among deliveries at a health facility (38%). Early initiation of breastfeeding is crucial in improving maternal and newborn health outcomes.
Methods :
We used data from the 2014 Bangladesh demographic and health survey. A total of 1277 last-born children born at a health facility in the 2 years preceding the survey were included in this analysis. ‘Early’ breastfeeding was defined using WHO recommendations as initiating within 1st hour of birth. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression were performed to determine factors associated with delayed initiation.
Results : About three-fifth (n=785, 62%) of the children born at a health facility delayed initiation of breastfeeding beyond the first hour. After adjusting for potential confounders, delayed initiation was found to be more common among caesarean deliveries (aOR 3.31; 95%CI 2.38-4.61), delivery by medically un-trained personnel (aOR 1.57; 95%CI 1.02-2.42), delay in first postnatal check-up after birth (aOR 1.61; 95%CI 1.17-2.21), and women exposed to media less than once a week (aOR 1.57; 95%CI 1.09-2.26). Women with higher body mass index had an increased likelihood of delaying initiation (aOR 1.05; 95%CI 1.01-1.10). Multiparous women were less likely to delay initiation (aOR 0.72; 95%CI 0.53-0.98).
Conclusions : Delayed initiation following caesarean deliveries continues to be a challenge but several other health facility factors and maternal characteristics also contributed to delayed initiation of BF. Interventions to promote early breastfeeding initiation should include strengthening the capacity of healthcare providers to encourage early initiation especially for caesarean deliveries.
Funding Sources : Endeavour Postgraduate Scholarship
Shahreen Raihana
The University of Sydney
Tanvir Huda
The University of Sydney
Ashraful Alam
Senior Research Fellow in Medical Anthropology
The Univeristy of Sydney
Michael Dibley
Professor of Global Public Health Nutrition
The University of Sydney