Predictors of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months: An analytical cross-sectional study in Ardabil health centers, Iran, 2020

Abstract

Abstract Background Mother’s own milk has been considered the perfect food for babies for the first 6 months. Several factors predict the successful continuation of breastfeeding. The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months among infants in Ardabil health centers in Iran, 2020. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 379 lactating women who had infants over 6 months and attended in health care centers of Ardabil city in 2020. Health centers were selected by cluster-stratified method. Convenience sample approach was used to recruit the eligible lactating mothers. The information of mothers and their infants was included in the pre-prepared checklists. This information was statistically analyzed by SPSS 23 software. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictive power of related factors. Results The results showed that more than half of the infants (51.71%) were exclusively breastfed for 6 months, and the majority (46.9%) of these infants were the first child in the family, the majority (85.2%) were born by vaginal birth and the first feeding in 98% of cases was in the first half hour after birth. Among the variables related to exclusive breastfeeding, only the predictive power of breastfeeding in the first half hour after birth was confirmed (p = 0.002). In other words, breastfeeding soon after birth increased almost 6 times the probability of exclusive breastfeeding up to six months. Conclusions Based on the results, breastfeeding soon after birth had a high predictive power in the continuation of exclusive breastfeeding up to six months. Considering the very important role of exclusive breastfeeding in maintaining and ensuring of the maternal and child health, it is suggested to emphasize and pay more attention to initiation of breastfeeding in newborn infant as soon as possible.