Factors Affecting Breastfeeding within the First Hour After Birth

Every baby should start life with breastfeeding. However, some obstacles prevent babies from enjoying this right.

This study aimed to determine the factors affecting breastfeeding within the first hour after birth.

This study employed a comparison design. This was a comparative study of women who breastfeed their babies within 1 h of birth and those who did not. The research population consisted of 368 mothers who had babies aged 6-24 months. A semi-structured questionnaire, which consisted of 32 open- and closed-ended questions, was used to collect data. The number and proportions were used for the descriptive statistics, and Chi-square tests were used to compare data between groups. The level of statistical significance was accepted as P < 0.05.

Of the 368 participants, 50.8% breastfed their babies within the first hour after birth, 49.2% did not breastfeed within the first hour, 51.6% exclusively breastfed in the first 6 months, 48.4% did not breastfeed exclusively in the first 6 months. Moreover, results revealed that a high-risk pregnancy status, mode of delivery, prelacteal food, and the mother's role in making decisions about baby feeding affects breastfeeding practices within the first hour after birth.

Initiatives should be increased to start breastfeeding within the first hour after birth in women who have high-risk pregnancy and those giving birth by cesarean section. Breast milk should be the baby's first food, and mothers should be the primary decision-makers in baby's nutrition.