Timely Initiation of Breastfeeding of Newborns and Associated Factors Among Mothers Delivered by Cesarean Section in Public Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2020. Multicentre Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Background The timely initiation of breastfeeding is defined as putting the newborn to the breast within one hour of birth and skin-to-skin contact along with suckling at the breast stimulates the mother’s production of breast milk. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the timely initiation of neonatal breastfeeding and related factors among mothers who delivered by caesarean section at public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2020. Subject and Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 413 postnatal mothers delivered by cesarean section from March 25th to May 30th, 2020 at four randomly selected hospitals in Addis Ababa. Proportional allocation was done in each selected hospitals, and consecutive sampling technique was carried out to select study participants. The dependent variable was timely initiation of breast feeding. The independent variables are maternal socio demographic characteristics, obstetric and health services related, new born related and family & socio cultural related factors. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify associated variables and potential confounders. Multivariate logistic regression was then used to control for potential confounding factors, and P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results Overall, 48.2% had good practice of timely initiation of breast feeding among postnatal mothers. Educational status of the mother (AOR = 4.74, 95% CI: 1.73 to 12.96; p = 0.002), ante natal care follow up (AOR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.25 to 3.72, p = 0.006), delivery time (AOR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.77, p = 0.003), prelacteal feeding (AOR = 4.18, 95% CI: 2.45 to 7.12, p = 000) and maternal breast problem (AOR = 8.78, 95% CI: 1.84 to 42.00, p = 000) were significantly associated with timely initiation of breast feeding. Conclusion Health care providers, especially those working in labour and delivery wards must give high attention to mothers’ delivered by caesarean section to initiate breast feeding timely.