Practice of early initiation of breastfeeding among postnatal mothers in a tertiary hospital in South India

Background: Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) has significant health benefits, but the practice of this in many parts of the world is far beyond the optimal period of initiation. Hence, we planned to assess the time of initiation of breastfeeding among postnatal mothers and to identify the fa...

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Main Authors: Reema Alen Babu, Anish Keepanasseril, K Kanimozhi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2018-01-01
Series:International Journal of Advanced Medical and Health Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ijamhrjournal.org/article.asp?issn=2349-4220;year=2018;volume=5;issue=1;spage=18;epage=20;aulast=Babu
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spelling doaj-238baa892c73451ab900b6bcbeccd6b22020-11-25T02:01:39ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsInternational Journal of Advanced Medical and Health Research2349-42202350-02982018-01-0151182010.4103/IJAMR.IJAMR_66_17Practice of early initiation of breastfeeding among postnatal mothers in a tertiary hospital in South IndiaReema Alen BabuAnish KeepanasserilK KanimozhiBackground: Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) has significant health benefits, but the practice of this in many parts of the world is far beyond the optimal period of initiation. Hence, we planned to assess the time of initiation of breastfeeding among postnatal mothers and to identify the factors associated with practice of early initiation in a tertiary hospital setting. Methods: The study was carried out among 216 postnatal mothers who delivered term healthy babies. All the mother–infant dyads enrolled were interviewed within 6 h postpartum. Data were collected using a structured interview. An in-depth interview of 35 staff nurses, who worked in the labor rooms and postpartum wards, was carried out after 3 months of initial data collection, to assess the factors responsible for delayed breastfeeding. Results: One hundred and twenty-six (58%) mothers were primiparous and 97 (44.9%) had secondary level of education. The median time of initiation of breastfeeding was 94 min (interquartile range 48–126 min). The time of rooming-in and the mother's knowledge on early breastfeeding initiation were found to be associated with the time of initiation of breastfeeding. Conclusion: EIBF was extremely low in the study setting, which is alarming and suggests an immediate need for the change of existing hospital policy.http://www.ijamhrjournal.org/article.asp?issn=2349-4220;year=2018;volume=5;issue=1;spage=18;epage=20;aulast=BabuBreastfeedingearly initiationpostpartum mothersrooming-in
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Reema Alen Babu
Anish Keepanasseril
K Kanimozhi
spellingShingle Reema Alen Babu
Anish Keepanasseril
K Kanimozhi
Practice of early initiation of breastfeeding among postnatal mothers in a tertiary hospital in South India
International Journal of Advanced Medical and Health Research
Breastfeeding
early initiation
postpartum mothers
rooming-in
author_facet Reema Alen Babu
Anish Keepanasseril
K Kanimozhi
author_sort Reema Alen Babu
title Practice of early initiation of breastfeeding among postnatal mothers in a tertiary hospital in South India
title_short Practice of early initiation of breastfeeding among postnatal mothers in a tertiary hospital in South India
title_full Practice of early initiation of breastfeeding among postnatal mothers in a tertiary hospital in South India
title_fullStr Practice of early initiation of breastfeeding among postnatal mothers in a tertiary hospital in South India
title_full_unstemmed Practice of early initiation of breastfeeding among postnatal mothers in a tertiary hospital in South India
title_sort practice of early initiation of breastfeeding among postnatal mothers in a tertiary hospital in south india
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
series International Journal of Advanced Medical and Health Research
issn 2349-4220
2350-0298
publishDate 2018-01-01
description Background: Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) has significant health benefits, but the practice of this in many parts of the world is far beyond the optimal period of initiation. Hence, we planned to assess the time of initiation of breastfeeding among postnatal mothers and to identify the factors associated with practice of early initiation in a tertiary hospital setting. Methods: The study was carried out among 216 postnatal mothers who delivered term healthy babies. All the mother–infant dyads enrolled were interviewed within 6 h postpartum. Data were collected using a structured interview. An in-depth interview of 35 staff nurses, who worked in the labor rooms and postpartum wards, was carried out after 3 months of initial data collection, to assess the factors responsible for delayed breastfeeding. Results: One hundred and twenty-six (58%) mothers were primiparous and 97 (44.9%) had secondary level of education. The median time of initiation of breastfeeding was 94 min (interquartile range 48–126 min). The time of rooming-in and the mother's knowledge on early breastfeeding initiation were found to be associated with the time of initiation of breastfeeding. Conclusion: EIBF was extremely low in the study setting, which is alarming and suggests an immediate need for the change of existing hospital policy.
topic Breastfeeding
early initiation
postpartum mothers
rooming-in
url http://www.ijamhrjournal.org/article.asp?issn=2349-4220;year=2018;volume=5;issue=1;spage=18;epage=20;aulast=Babu
work_keys_str_mv AT reemaalenbabu practiceofearlyinitiationofbreastfeedingamongpostnatalmothersinatertiaryhospitalinsouthindia
AT anishkeepanasseril practiceofearlyinitiationofbreastfeedingamongpostnatalmothersinatertiaryhospitalinsouthindia
AT kkanimozhi practiceofearlyinitiationofbreastfeedingamongpostnatalmothersinatertiaryhospitalinsouthindia
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