Scientific African (Sep 2023)
Early breastfeeding initiation: Exploring rates and determinants among postpartum women in Eastern Morocco
Abstract
Introduction: Breast milk is the only complete food source for infants under the age of six months, as it provides the bioactive nutrients needed to strengthen the infant's immune system, promote growth, and facilitate tissue repair. Despite the many benefits of colostrum, the National Demographic and Family Health Survey of 2018 revealed that only 42% of women in Morocco were breastfeeding within an hour of giving birth. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the factors influencing breastfeeding initiation after discharge within the maternity ward of the Provincial Hospital of Taza, in the Eastern Region of Morocco. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over a four-month period among 400 women who had given birth and were breastfeeding in the maternity ward of Ibn Baja Hospital, in the city of Taza. Questionnaires were filled out on site to collect socio-demographic, obstetric, and timely breastfeeding initiation data, as well as its determinants, before the mothers' discharge from the maternity ward. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: The participants in this study were all breastfeeding mothers who had given birth at full term. Their average age was 28.43±6.18 years, and 94.5% of them were housewives. Of these, 74% lived in rural areas, 49% lived in large families, and 48% had been married for over 5 years. The study found that only 37% of mothers initiated breastfeeding within the first hour, 78% had a vaginal delivery, and 71.5% of mothers had at least a primary education compared to 75% of fathers. Among the newborns, the majority (99.5%) had a birth weight exceeding 2.5 kgs, of which 52% were female. 66% of mothers reported having already experienced breastfeeding, and 48.5% had information about early breastfeeding. 64.5% of the respondents had made the decision to breastfeed their newborns during pregnancy. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed the involvement of six factors in the determination of early breastfeeding, namely mother's age, parents' education, sex of the newborn, prior knowledge about early breastfeeding, as well as whether or not the mother had already been breastfed by her mother. Conclusion: The study found that just 37% of mothers initiated breastfeeding within one hour of delivery. This highlights the strong association between early breastfeeding initiation and factors such as parental education, newborn sex, prior knowledge about early breastfeeding, and the mother's breastfeeding history. To promote early breastfeeding initiation, it is recommended that women of childbearing age receive education on the topic, particularly those who are less educated.
