Abstract:
Introduction: Worldwide more than 7.6 million children under the age of five die each year.
Of the 26 countries worldwide with under-five mortality rates above 100 deaths per 1,000
live births in 2010, 24 are in Africa.Among others, inappropriate breastfeeding practices
contribute significantly to child mortality
Objective: To assess barriers and facilitators for timely initiation of breastfeeding among
mothers in south Gondar, Amhara regional state, Ethiopia
Methods and Materials: A community based cross sectional study was employed. A multistage
stratified sampling technique was used to select the sample of 845 mothers, 823 were interviewed
making a response rate of 97.4 %.Quantitative data were collected by face to face interview using
a semi structured questionnaire and the qualitative part was conducted by using focus group
discussion. Quantitative data were entered, cleaned and analysed using SPSS (version 16 for
windows). The qualitative data were transcribed into English language and analysed manually. The
transcribed data were read carefully, color coded, categorized into themes and presented in the
narratives triangulated with quantitative part.
Result: The prevalence of timely initiation of breastfeeding in south Gondar was 48.7% (54.7%
in urban and 25.1% in rural areas). The qualitative study revealed that timely initiation of
breastfeeding was facilitated by health care provider’s information and family supports.
Early child bathing, prelacteal foods, bad perception toward colostrum, breast milk
insufficient and maternal and child illness were barriers for timely initiation of breastfeeding.
The Odds of initiation of breastfeeding within one hour increased for urban mothers
(AOR=2.1, 95%CI=1.4-3.3), on multiparous mothers (AOR=2.8, 95 CI%=2.0-3.8), on
mothers who had ANC follow up (AOR=3.2, 95% CI%=2.0-5.2) , on mothers delivered in
health institution (AOR=3.1, 95% CI=3.1(2.2-4.6) and on mothers delivered vaginally
(AOR=4.1,95%CI=1.7-9.8) than with their respective counterparts.
Conclusion and recommendation: This study depicts the rate of timely initiation of
breastfeeding was low in the south Gondar zone. Timely initiation of breastfeeding was
facilitated by health care provider’s information and family supports. In contrast, early child
bathing, prelacteal foods or fluids, bad perception toward colostrums, breast milk insufficient
and maternal and newborn baby illness were barriers for timely initiation of breastfeeding.
Factors which were found to be independent predictors of timely initiation of breastfeeding
include residence, parity, ANC follows up, place of delivery and mode of delivery. The results
suggested south Gondar zone health office has to provide breastfeeding information for rural
and primiparous mothers in which timely initiation of breastfeeding is poorly practiced.
