Factors associated with Early Initiation of Breastfeeding in Western Nepal

Vishnu Khanal, Jane A. Scott, Andy H. Lee, Rajendra Karkee and Colin W. Binns
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Vishnu Khanal: Nepal Development Society, Bharatpur, 44209, Nepal
Jane A. Scott: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth 6102, Australia
Andy H. Lee: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth 6102, Australia
Rajendra Karkee: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan 56700, Nepal
Colin W. Binns: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth 6102, Australia

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 8, 1-13

Abstract: The initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth has numerous nutritional and immunological benefits and has been found to reduce neonatal mortality. This community-based prospective cohort study aimed to report the rate of, and factors associated with, early initiation of breastfeeding in Western Nepal. The rate of early initiation of breastfeeding was reported, and associations between early initiation and independent variables were tested by Chi-square test, followed by multiple logistic regression. Of the 735 mother-infant pairs, a total of 310 (42.2%) reported early initiation. Mothers who were assisted by traditional attendants during childbirth, delivered by caesarean section, from ethnically disadvantaged families and had delivered low birth weight infants, were less likely to initiate breastfeeding early whereas the mothers who were from the poorest families and did not introduce prelacteal feeds to their infants were more likely to initiate breastfeeding within the first hour. Skills-training to support breastfeeding as part of the training of skilled birth attendants and other health workers is likely to promote recommended infant feeding practices.

Keywords: breastfeeding; cohort study; early initiation; Nepal; initiation of breastfeeding (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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