Key correlates of exclusive breastfeeding at three timepoints: Evidence from Ethiopia
Seblewongel Yigletu1, Shalini A Tendulkar1, Ashley C Holmes1
1Department of Community Health, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA.
Insights
Giving colostrum and early skin-to-skin contact are key factors for exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in Ethiopia. These practices are associated with higher rates of EBF at birth, 3 days, and 6 months post-birth.
Area of Science:
- Maternal and Child Health
- Public Health Nutrition
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is recommended by the World Health Organization for improved infant health outcomes.
- Understanding factors influencing EBF at different time points post-birth is crucial for targeted interventions.
- Limited research exists on the varying correlates of EBF in the critical first 6 months in Ethiopia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and compare factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) within 1 hour of birth, within 3 days, and within the first 6 months post-birth in Ethiopia.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the
Main Results:
- Giving colostrum was strongly associated with EBF at all three time points (within 1 hour, 3 days, and 6 months).
- Early initiation of breastfeeding (within 1 hour and 3 days) was linked to practices like putting the baby to the breast before cleaning.
- Girl babies were more likely to be exclusively breastfed within the first hour of birth compared to boy babies.
Conclusions:
- Factors associated with EBF are dynamic and vary significantly across different time points post-birth.
- Findings highlight the importance of early initiation and colostrum feeding for promoting EBF.
- The study provides evidence to inform interventions aimed at improving breastfeeding practices in Ethiopia.
Aim:
To compare factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) within 1 h of birth, within 3 days, and within the first 6 months post-birth.
Methods:
We used multivariate logistic regression models and data from "The Alive and Thrive Phase 2 Amhara Baseline Survey 2015" from Ethiopia (N = 3113).
Results:
Giving colostrum was strongly associated with EBF at all three time points, controlling for multiple confounders. Putting the baby to the breast before cleaning the baby and before cleaning the mother was significantly associated with EBF within 1 h and for the first 3 days. EBF within an hour of birth was more likely for girl babies than boy babies. Having a healthcare professional check whether the baby was sucking well was significantly associated with EBF 3 days post-birth.
Conclusions:
The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding within 1 h of birth and exclusively thereafter for 6 months, which can improve health outcomes for infants and children. In Ethiopia, many factors influence breastfeeding practices, but little is known about how these factors differ at various key timepoints in the 6 months after birth. Our study provides important information on correlates of EBF at three timepoints and shows that factors that are significantly correlated with EBF vary over time. Future research should assess the potential causal links among statistically significant associations between EBF and risk factors at various times between birth and 6 months of age. Ultimately, these findings have the potential to inform areas of intervention related to promoting EBF.
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