NDLI: Factors influencing early initiation of breastfeeding in Afghanistan: secondary analysis of the Afghanistan MICS 2022

Content Provider	Springer Nature : BioMed Central
Author	Tawfiq, Essa Stanikzai, Muhammad Haroon Tareen, Zarghoon Alawi, Sayed Ali Shah Wasiq, Abdul Wahed Dadras, Omid
Abstract	Background Initiating breastfeeding immediately within the first hour following birth has positive effects on the mother’s and newborn’s health and wellbeing. Little is known about the early initiation of breastfeeding and associated factors in Afghanistan. In this study, we addressed this research gap. Methods We used data from the Afghanistan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2022–23. Data were analysed from 11,992 ever-married women, aged 15–49 years, who delivered a live child in the last 2 years before the survey. The outcome was early initiation of breastfeeding and defined as initiating breastfeeding within the first hour of birth. A logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with early initiation of breastfeeding. Results Out of 11,992 women, 46.9% initiated breastfeeding within the first hour of birth. The likelihood of early initiation of breastfeeding was greater in women with secondary or higher education (AOR 1.44 [95% CI 1.26, 1.63]), in women belonging to the second wealth quintile (AOR 1.17 [95% CI 1.04, 1.31]), in women who had access to media (AOR 1.15 [95% CI 1.03, 1.29]), and in women who had mobile phones (AOR 1.25 [95% CI 1.15, 1.37]). The likelihood was lower in women who gave birth at home (AOR 0.60 [95% CI 0.55, 0.66]), at private hospitals or clinics (AOR 0.65 [95% CI 0.56, 0.76]), as compared to women who gave birth at public clinics or hospitals, and in women living in rural areas (AOR 0.88 [95% CI 0.78, 0.95]). Women who had C-section for their latest live birth (AOR 0.26 [95% CI 0.21, 0.32]), and women who had very small-sized babies (AOR 0.89 [95% CI 0.79, 0.99]) were less likely to report early initiation of breastfeeding. Conclusion With nearly half of Afghan women delaying breastfeeding beyond the first hour of birth, targeted health policies and interventions are crucial. Addressing key socioeconomic and healthcare disparities through education, equitable access to maternal care, and community-based awareness programs can promote early breastfeeding practices and improve neonatal health outcomes in Afghanistan.
Related Links	https://internationalbreastfeedingjournal.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s13006-025-00723-7.pdf
Ending Page	11
Page Count	11
Starting Page	1
File Format	HTM / HTML
ISSN	17464358
DOI	10.1186/s13006-025-00723-7
Journal	International Breastfeeding Journal
Issue Number	1
Volume Number	20
Language	English
Publisher	BioMed Central
Publisher Date	2025-04-11
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	Maternal and Child Health Breastfeeding Colostrum Early breastfeeding Neonatal health Afghanistan
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Obstetrics and Gynecology Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
Journal Impact Factor	2.9/2023
5-Year Journal Impact Factor	3.6/2023

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