Nakayiza Vivianne, Izudi Jonathan, Nasuuna Esther M, Atim Fiona
Institute of Public Health and Management, Clarke International University, Kampala, Uganda.
Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda.
Arch Public Health. 2025 Jun 16;83(1):154. doi: 10.1186/s13690-025-01658-5.
Breastfeeding initiation within the first hour of birth is beneficial in reducing the risk of maternal and neonatal mortality. However, a significant proportion of mothers delay initiating breastfeeding within an hour of birth, but the association with age has not been rigorously studied. We examined the association between maternal age and delayed initiation of breastfeeding in a large urban referral hospital in central Uganda.
This analytic cross-sectional study was conducted at the Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital in Central Uganda. Data were collected using a researcher-administered questionnaire between October 1, 2019, and December 20, 2019. Delayed initiation of breastfeeding was the primary outcome, defined as putting the newborn to the breast after one hour of birth. The primary exposure was maternal age categorized as 15-24, 25-34, and 35-45 years. We performed a modified Poisson regression analysis to determine the independent association between maternal age and delayed initiation of breastfeeding, adjusting for other confounders. We stated the findings as an adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).
We studied 384 participants with a mean age of 27.5 ± 5.5 years. Of the 384 participants studied, 275 (71.6%) had delayed initiating breastfeeding, with the majority aged 15-24 years. In a multivariable analysis, delayed initiation of breastfeeding was significantly associated with maternal age groups of 15-24 years (aPR 1.28, 95% CI 1.01,1.63) and 25-34 years (aPR 1.28, 95% CI 1.01-1.60) compared to the reference group of 35-45 years. Additionally, delivery through cesarean section compared to spontaneous vaginal delivery was associated with delayed initiation of breastfeeding (aPR 1.93, 95% CI 1.49-2.49).
Delayed initiation of breastfeeding is common and is associated with maternal age (15-24 and 25-34 years) as well as delivery through cesarean section. Routine health education and staff mentoring are needed to enhance early initiation of breastfeeding to prevent maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
出生后一小时内开始母乳喂养有助于降低孕产妇和新生儿死亡风险。然而，相当一部分母亲在出生后一小时内延迟开始母乳喂养，但其与年龄的关联尚未得到严格研究。我们在乌干达中部一家大型城市转诊医院研究了孕产妇年龄与母乳喂养延迟开始之间的关联。
这项分析性横断面研究在乌干达中部恩德培地区转诊医院进行。2019年10月1日至2019年12月20日期间，通过研究人员管理的问卷收集数据。母乳喂养延迟开始是主要结局，定义为出生一小时后才让新生儿吸吮乳房。主要暴露因素是分为15 - 24岁、25 - 34岁和35 - 45岁的孕产妇年龄。我们进行了改良泊松回归分析，以确定孕产妇年龄与母乳喂养延迟开始之间的独立关联，并对其他混杂因素进行调整。我们将研究结果表述为调整患病率比（aPR）和95%置信区间（CI）。
我们研究了384名参与者，平均年龄为27.5±5.5岁。在384名研究参与者中，275名（71.6%）延迟开始母乳喂养，其中大多数年龄在15 - 24岁。在多变量分析中，与35 - 45岁的参照组相比，15 - 24岁（aPR 1.28，95% CI 1.01，1.63）和25 - 34岁（aPR 1.28，95% CI 1.01 - 1.60）的孕产妇年龄组的母乳喂养延迟开始显著相关。此外，与自然阴道分娩相比，剖宫产与母乳喂养延迟开始相关（aPR 1.93，95% CI 1.49 - 2.49）。
母乳喂养延迟开始很常见，并且与孕产妇年龄（15 - 24岁和25 - 34岁）以及剖宫产有关。需要进行常规健康教育和对工作人员的指导，以促进母乳喂养的早期开始，预防孕产妇和新生儿发病及死亡。
