Background

Timely initiation of breastfeeding has lifetime importance for the mother and the child [1, 2] and the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding (GSIYF) sets the standards for timelyinitiation of breastfeeding [3]. Specifically, the GSIYF standards include 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding, and continued breastfeeding for 2 years or beyond with, timely, adequate, safe and appropriate complementary foods starting after 6 months. Related support for maternal health, nutrition and birth spacing is also important [3].

Globally, timely initiation of breastfeeding is low (44%) [4]. Newborns whose mothers do not initiate breastfeeding after the first hour of birth (33%) face a greater risk of common infections [5], have 50% increased risk of breathing difficulties in the first 6 months of life and increased risk of death compared with those whose mothers begin breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth [6, 7]. The risk of death increases with increasing delay in initiation of breastfeeding from 1 hour to day seven [5]. The first hour is important because it is within this period that newborns can be fed on colostrum (the first breast milk that provide passive and active protection against a wide variety of known pathogens) [8]. Thus, initiation of breastfeeding within the first 1 hour of delivery, is vital and can reduce neonatal mortality by 19.1% [9].

Studies have revealed a number of maternal and child factors as associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding. Ghimire [10] in a study among women of Nepal, indicated that educational level, ethnicity, mother’s involvement in agricultural occupations, and delivery in a health facility were associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding. Also, in Nepal, Adhikari [9] reported that the size of babies at birth and place of residence were associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding. Furthermore, Sigman-Grant and Kim [11] revealed that traditional beliefs and knowledge about specific breastfeeding are also linked to timely initiation of breastfeeding in Brisbane and Perth in Australia.

While some studies on timely initiation of breastfeeding in Africa have been published [1, 12,13,14], there is a dearth of studies linking maternal and child factors with timely initiation of breastfeeding across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Thus, we sought to examine the maternal and child factors associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding in SSA. Findings from the study may give a better understanding for policy interventions geared towards enhancing timely initiation of breastfeeding.

Methods

Data source

We pooled data from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHSs) of 29 countries in SSA from 2010 to 2018. Specifically, we used data from the child’s recode file of the various countries. The DHS is a nationally representative survey that has been conducted in over 85 low-and middle-income countries globally. It focuses on essential maternal and child health markers including “breastfeeding practices” [15]. The survey employs a two-stage stratified sampling technique, which makes the data nationally representative. The first-stage sampling consisted of a list of primary sampling units (PSUs) or enumeration areas (EAs) that covered the entire country and usually were obtained from the latest national census, when available. EAs are further subdivided into standard size segments of about 100–500 households per segment. In this stage, a sample of predetermined segments is selected randomly with probability proportional to the EA’s size (number of households in EA). In the second stage, the DHS personnel select households systematically from a list of previously enumerated households in each selected EA segment, and in-person interviews were conducted in selected households to target populations: women aged 15–49, men aged 15–64, and children under five. The women, those who were usual residents of selected households or visitors who slept in the households on the night before the survey are interviewed. Data on timely initiation of breastfeeding were obtained from the women through self-reporting. Aliaga and Ruilin, [16] provides details of the sampling process. A total of 60,038 women aged 15–49 years with birth history and who had children born in the 2 years preceding the survey and practiced breastfeeding were included in our study. We excluded women without birth history, those who did not give birth in the 2 years preceding the survey and those with no information on breastfeeding. As shown in Table 1, the overall number of missing values, was 2954, which represented 4.68% of the total sample. Due to the small proportion of missing values, we used complete cases for the analysis. We relied on the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology’ (STROBE) statement in writing the manuscript [17].

Table 1 Description of surveys and sample sizes
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Definition of variables

Outcome variable

The outcome variable for the study was timely initiation of breastfeeding. It was derived from the question, “How long after birth did you first put (NAME) to the breast?” The responses were: immediately, hours and days [18, 19]. The responses were then dichotomised to timely initiation of breastfeeding = 1, if women responded that breastfeeding was done immediately after birth or within the first hour, and late initiation = 0, if women responded otherwise [18, 19].

Independent variables

The study used seventeen independent variables. These variables were considered principally because of their statistically significant relationship with timely initiation of breastfeeding in previous studies [12,13,14, 18, 19]. These variables were grouped into maternal factors child factors and contextual factor. The maternal factors included mother’s age, mother's educational level, marital status, employment status, frequency of reading newspaper, frequency of listening to radio, frequency of watching television, number of antenatal care (ANC) visits, place of residence, wealth quintile, type of delivery assistance, place child was delivered, and type of delivery. Wealth quintile is computed based on household assets and characteristics of the household. In DHS, wealth quintile is computed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The child factors used for the study were size of the child at birth, birth order and twin status of the child (Table 2). The contextual factor was sub-region and was grouped into West Africa, South Africa, Central Africa, and East Africa.

Table 2 Distribution of timely initiation of breastfeeding in SSA by explanatory variables (Weighted, N = 60,038)
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Statistical analyses

The data were analysed with Stata version 14.0 (Stata Corporation, College Station, TX, USA). The analyses were done in three steps. The first step was the computation of the prevalence of timely initiation of breastfeeding in SSA. The second step was a bivariate analysis that calculated the proportions of timely initiation of breastfeeding across the socio-demographic characteristics with their significance levels. After the bivariate analysis, we checked for high correlation among the significant explanatory variables through a test for multicollinearity using the variance inflation factor (VIF) and the results showed no evidence of high collinearity (Mean VIF = 1.47, Maximum VIF = 2.76, and Minimum VIF = 1.02). Afterwards, three hierarchical logistic regression models were built. Only variables that were significant from the second step were used in a multivariable logistic regression (Table 3). Model I constituted a multivariable analysis between the maternal factors and timely initiation of breastfeeding. We added child factors to the initial model in Model II. Model III controlled for the effect of sub-regions. We presented all results of the logistic analyses as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). All frequency distributions were weighted using the sample weight (v005/1,000,000) whiles the svy command was used to account for the complex survey design and generalizability of the findings.

Table 3 Multivariable hierarchical logistic regression analysis on determinants of timely initiation of breastfeeding in SSA
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Results

Prevalence of timely initiation of breastfeeding in sub-Saharan Africa

Figure 1 presents results on the prevalence of timely initiation of breastfeeding in SSA. We found a prevalence of 55.81% in the sub-region. The country with the highest prevalence of timely initiation of breastfeeding was Burundi (86.19%), whereas Guinea had the lowest prevalence (15.17%).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Proportion of women who engaged in timely initiation of breastfeeding

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Bivariate results on the determinants of timely initiation of breastfeeding

Table 2 presents results of the distribution of timely initiation of breastfeeding in SSA accross the explanatory variables. All the explanatory variables, except place of residence had significant associations with timely initiation of breastfeeding at 95% CI. The highest prevalence of timely initiation of breastfeeding was among women aged 45–49 (57.8%), those who were widowed (58.4%), women with primary education (59.0%), non-working women (57.3%), those with richest wealth quintile (58.7%), those who read newspaper less than once a week (59.3%), those who listened to radio at least once a week (57.3%), and those who never watched television (56.6%). Women who had four or more ANC visits (57.5%), those with average sized children (58.6%), those with 2–4 birth order children (58.0%), those who delivered in the health facility (59.8%), those who had assistance of a health professional during delivery (60.6%), those who had vaginal delivery (57.0%), and those with single births (56.1%), all had high prevalence of timely initiation of breastfeeding.

Results of the multivariable logistic regression analysis

Table 3 presents results of the multivariable hierarchical logistic regression analysis on the maternal and child factors associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding in SSA. Model III, which is the complete model, presents the results for all the determinants, while controlling for sub-regions. The results show that the likelihood of timely initiation of breastfeeding was higher among women of all age categories compared with those aged 15–19, with the highest odds among those aged 45–49 (aOR 1.63; 95% CI 1.36, 1.94). Richest women were more likely to practice timely initiation of breastfeeding compared to women with poorest wealth quintile (aOR 1.13; 95% CI 1.05, 1.20). Higher odds of timely initiation of breastfeeding were also observed among women with primary education (aOR 1.21; 95% CI 1.16, 1.26), those who read newspaper at least once a week (aOR 1.13; 95% CI 1.06, 1.21), women who had four or more ANC visits (aOR 1.11; 95% CI 1.03, 1.17) and women who delivered at the health facility (aOR 1.41; 95% CI 1.33, 1.50), compared to women with no formal education, those who never read newspaper, those with no ANC visits and those who delivered at home. Women who were assisted by a health professional during delivery, compared to those who were not (aOR 1.26; 95% CI 1.19, 1.33), those who had 2–4 birth order children compared to those with first birth order children (aOR 1.15; 95% CI 1.09, 1.21) and women who lived in Southern Africa compared to those who lived in West Africa (aOR 2.13; 95% CI 1.97, 2.31) were more likely to initiate breastfeeding timely.

Lower odds of timely initiation of breastfeeding were identified in married women, compared to never married women (aOR 0.91; 95% CI 0.85, 0.98); working women, compared to non-working women (aOR 0.90; 95% CI 0.87, 0.93); women who listened to radio less than once a week, compared to those who never listened to radio (aOR 0.93; 95% CI 0.88, 0.97); women who watched television at least once a week, compared to those who never watched television (aOR 0.74; 95% CI 0.70, 0.78); women who delivered through caesarean section, compared to those who had vaginal delivery (aOR 0.30; 95% CI 0.27, 0.32); women who had smaller than average children compared to those with larger than average children (aOR 0.94; 95% CI 0.90, 0.99); and those with multiple births, compared to those with single births (aOR 0.67; 95% CI 0.59, 0.76). Women who lived in Central Africa were less likely to initiate breastfeeding timely compared to those who lived in West Africa (aOR 0.80; 95% CI 0.75, 0.84). 

Discussion

The study sought to examine the maternal and child factors associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding in SSA. The results indicated that timely initiation of breastfeeding was phenomenal among Southern and East Africans. A meta-analysis conducted by Issaka and colleagues about the prevalence of key breastfeeding indicators in 29 sub-Saharan African countries similarly found that women in Southern Africa were inclined to timely initiation of breastfeeding [12]. Hence, underlying factors influencing mothers’ timely initiation of breastfeeding practices across SSA need a critical attention. Meanwhile, a review by Bora [20] noted that educational interventions significantly increased breastfeeding rates in developing countries. Therefore, similar interventions could aid improve maternal knowledge and practices of timely initiation of breastfeeding among women in SSA, especially residents in Central Africa. In relation to the above, the present study identified specific maternal and child factors associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding.

The study revealed that maternal socio-economic status was positively associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding. The results are consistent with a systematic review of literature on factors and barriers accounting for timely initiation of breastfeeding in South Asia [21]. Also, birth order correlated with timely initiation of breastfeeding whereby women at parity 2–4 had higher odds to initiate breastfeeding timely. Probably, women of higher parity might be refining their knowledge and practices about breastfeeding with each birth [1], hence, affecting their breastfeeding practices. Consistent with a previous study [9], timely initiation of breastfeeding correlated with women who delivered at the health facility. Similarly, the study revealed a positive association between health worker’s assisted delivery and timely initiation of breastfeeding. This is not surprising since mothers who delivered in the health facilities can benefit from direct counselling provided by health professionals on the practice of timely initiation of breastfeeding [10].

In disagreement to a previous study [9], the prevailing study observed a negative association between mother’s level of education and timely initiation of breastfeeding. Arguably, education propels women to be receptive to health information which refines their behavior and reorient them to select positive health behaviours, including adopting healthy infant feeding practices such as timely initiation of breastfeeding [22], so our observation was unexpected. Moreover, an inverse relationship was noted between access to radio and timely initiation of breastfeeding. Theoretically, having access to information through radio might not necessarily translate into usage of such information if the information is culturally incompatible and complex to adopt [23]. Other maternal factors that determined timely initiation of breastfeeding include marital status and ANC visits. Although, a study conducted across nine countries in SSA had reported that when mothers attended ANC frequently, their likelihood to timely initiate breastfeeding increased [24]. However, the cross-sectional nature of the present study limited the effort to explain the reasons accounting for this relationship. Therefore, further studies to explain the relationship between these maternal variables and timely initiation of breastfeeding will be beneficial.

The study noted an inverse association between child’s birthweight and timely initiation of breastfeeding, whereby decreasing odds to timely initiate breastfeeding was found among women with children smaller than average size. Plausibly, some of the children born underweight may be undergoing the continuous maturing process of the physiologic functions relating to ‘nutritive sucking pathway’ development [25]. Hence, limiting their abilities needed for breastfeeding within the first hour of life, including having a good coordination of the suction-deglutition respiration cycle and the breast-seeking reflex [26]. Delivering through caesarean section was negatively associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding. Yisma et al. in their meta-analysis about impact of caesarean section on breastfeeding indicators among 33 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, showed that caesarean section was associated with a 46% lower prevalence of timely initiation of breastfeeding [14]. It is argued that mothers undergo a lot of pain due to caesarean delivery which contribute to the delay in breastfeeding practice [26]. Other literature also suggest that effects of anaesthesia could delay the onset of lactation or babies delivered through caesarean section faces associated respiratory distress [1]. Finally, the study revealed an inverse association between multiple births and timely initiation of breastfeeding. It is known that mothers who deliver multiple babies often experience difficulty with the initiation of breastfeeding during their hospitalisation [27]. Furthermore, the birth of twin babies is physically and mentally demanding compared to a singleton birth and is associated with numerous obstacles to breastfeeding [28].

Strengths and limitations

The novelty and strength linked with this study stem from the fact that, it investigated both maternal and child factors associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding in SSA using a nationally representative survey datasets from 29 countries. Also, the probability method employed in selecting survey respondents matched with appropriate analytical procedure make the results of the study robust. Again, the two-stage sampling approach used ensured that there was no selection bias that could affect the results. However, our results should be interpreted with caution. Firstly, causality cannot be established due to the cross-sectional nature of the study. Again, some variables had missing data that were treated as complete cases. Notwithstanding, the final sample size used, had a higher response rate which masked the effect of missing data. Also, the time interval between delivery and the interview up to 5 years can lead to recall bias which can result in inaccurate responses from mothers regarding the timeframe they put their babies to breastmilk. Additionally, surveyed women might provide responses concerning the practices of timely initiation of breastfeeding with the view of creating a positive breastfeeding image for themselves among those who know it is desirable, hence, social desirability bias is unavoidable in this study. Again, the interpretation of the odds should be done with caution as we admit that the higher odds ratios obtained in relation with some of the variables could be due to the large sample size used in this study. Moreover, the percentage variance in the models could have been increased by the inclusion of some sociocultural variables like colonial past, which were not available in the datasets. Finally, we admit that our study design did not permit us to investigate the reasons why disparities occurred, as far as timely initiation of breastfeeding and maternal and child factors are concerned.

Conclusions

The maternal factors identified to influence timely initiation of breastfeeding were mother’s wealth quintile, educational attainment, employment status, type of delivery assistance, place of delivery, type of delivery, marital status, ANC visits, and country of residence. The associated child factors were child’s size at birth, birth order and twin status. It is recommended that prioritising policies to enhance timely initiation of breastfeeding is needed, particularly among Central African countries where timely initiation of breastfeeding remains a challenge. Sufficient supportive care in addition to guidance and counselling should be given to mothers, especially those who go through caesarean section, deliver children smaller than average size or encounter multiple births to resolve timely initiation of breastfeeding inequalities associated with such class of mothers. Behavioural change communication programmes targeted at timely initiation of breastfeeding to reverse and close the timely initiation of breastfeeding gaps stratified by the maternal and child factors is worth implemented in SSA.