Timely Initiation of Breastfeeding Among Women Who Gave Birth by Cesarean Section in Central Ethiopia, 2022: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Timely initiation of breastfeeding reduces the risk of neonatal mortality. However, there was paucity of literature on the timely initiation of breastfeeding among women who gave birth by cesarean section (CS) in Ethiopia. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of timely initiation of breastfeeding and factors associated with it among women who gave birth by CS in central Ethiopia.

Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 403 women who gave birth by CS. Data were collected by using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and observation checklist, entered into EpiData 4.6, and exported to statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 26.Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed and statistical significance is declared at p<0.05.

Results: The magnitude of timely initiation of breastfeeding was 47.4% [95% CI: (42.5, 52.6)]. Attending four or more antenatal care visits [(AOR): 2.27, 95%CI: (1.28, 4.02)], counseling during antenatal care [AOR: 4.78, 95% CI: (2.66, 8.60)], early skin to skin contact with newborn [AOR: 2.83, 95% CI: (1.60, 5.02)], post-delivery counseling [AOR: 2.93, 95% CI: (1.56, 5.50)], and getting assistance from health professionals [AOR: 3.07, 95% CI: (1.64, 5.75)] were factors associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding.

Conclusions: The magnitude of timely initiation of breastfeeding in the study area was low. Strengthening counseling by health care practitioners during ANC and post-natal period should be prioritized to support women in initiating early skin-to-skin contact within one hour of birth is mandatory.