RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Determinants of early initiation of breast feeding during COVID-19 pandemic among urban-dwelling mothers from Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study
JF BMJ Open
JO BMJ Open
FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group
SP e070518
DO 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070518
VO 13
IS 7
A1 Gebretsadik, Gebretsadkan Gebremedhin
A1 Berhe, Kidanemaryam
A1 Gebregziabher, Hadush
YR 2023
UL http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/7/e070518.abstract
AB Objectives The objective of this study was to assess the practice of early initiation of breast feeding (EIBF) and its determinant factors among urban-dwelling mothers from Tigray during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2021. Data were analysed using StataSE Version 16 software. To identify determinant factors of the dependent variable, multivariate logistic regression analyses was used at a statistical significance of p<0.05. The strength of the association was measured by OR and 95% CI.Setting and participants The study was conducted among 633 lactating mothers of infants under the age of 6 months living in Mekelle city, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia from April to June 2021. A three-stage cluster sampling was used to select study participants.Main outcome measure EIBF or no EIBF.Results Three hundred and sixty eight (59.6%) mothers/caregivers practised EIBF. Maternal education (adjusted OR, AOR 2.45, 95 % CI 1.01 to 5.88), parity (AOR 1.20, 95 % CI 1.03 to 2.20), caesarean section delivery (AOR 0.47, 95 % CI 0.32 to 0.69) and breastfeeding information and support postdelivery (AOR 1.59, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.31) were found to be significant determinants of EIBF.Conclusions EIBF is defined as initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour after delivery. EIBF practice was far from optimal. During the COVID-19 pandemic, maternal education, parity, type of delivery and the provision of up-to-date breastfeeding information and support right after delivery determined the time of breastfeeding initiation.Data are available on reasonable request. All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as online supplemental information.