Factors associated with early initiation of breastfeeding

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) is still little stimulated in several hospitals in Brazil. Objective: To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF). Methods: Cross-sectional, quantitative study with retrospective secondary data collection in hospital records of 250 full-term newborns, regardless of the type of delivery, with no history of maternal gestational risk, seen in the last six months. Data collection period in a public maternity hospital in Greater São Paulo. Data collection was performed between November 2018 and January 2019, with approval from the hospital and the FMABC Research Ethics Committee under register n. 2,924,393. Results: The prevalence of EIBF was 66%. BFH is associated with anesthesia at childbirth (p<0,001), APGAR less than or equal to 8 in the 1st and 5th minutes (p<0,001), and with c-section (p<0,001), which represented 29.2% of deliveries in the sample. Respiratory distress (38.82%), hypotonia (24.70%), followed by unfavorable maternal conditions (18.82%), were shown to be impeding factors for EIBF, although 90% of newborns received Apgar 9 /10 in the 5th minute. Conclusion: The prevalence of early breastfeeding is lower than recommended, but compatible with the most recent national frequency proportions.