ArticleInternational health2020
Determinants of breastfeeding practices among mothers in Malawi: a population-based survey.
Article in International health, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 21 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
21 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 42 citations in OpenAlex.
- Predictors of exclusive breastfeeding: a systematic review and meta-analysis.International breastfeeding journal · 2025Pooled it
- Barriers and facilitators for early and exclusive breastfeeding in health facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review.Global health research and policy · 2021Pooled it
- Maternal and child determinants of early initiation of breastfeeding among recently delivered mothers in Uttar Pradesh: A community-based cross-sectional study.Journal of family medicine and primary care · 2026Article
- Early initiation of breastfeeding: Better practiced in primary healthcare facilities? Analysis of the 2019 National Demographic and Family Health Survey in Peru.PLOS global public health · 2025Article
- Evaluating the impact of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis on pregnancy, infant, and maternal health outcomes in Malawi: PrIMO study protocol.BMC public health · 2024Observational
- Health professional competency building for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in Malawi.Maternal & child nutrition · 2024Article
- Nexus between postpartum depression and exclusive breastfeeding practices among lactating mothers in Assosa Town, West Ethiopia.Frontiers in nutrition · 2024Article
- Infant and Young Child Feeding practices up to 23 months in Namuno District, Cabo Delgado, Mozambique.Italian journal of pediatrics · 2023Article
- Effects of exclusive breastfeeding on educational attainment and longitudinal trajectories of grade progression among children in a 13-year follow-up study in Malawi.Scientific reports · 2023Article
- Current findings and gaps in early initiation of breastfeeding practices in sub-Saharan African countries: A scoping review.Journal of global health · 2023Article
- Health facility delivery and early initiation of breastfeeding: Cross-sectional survey of 11 sub-Saharan African countries.Health science reports · 2023Article
- Community-based management of acute malnutrition for infants under 6 months of age is safe and effective: analysis of operational data.Public health nutrition · 2023Article
- Factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding practice among under-six months infants in Ethiopia.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2022Article
- Beyond early initiation: A qualitative study on the challenges of hospital-based postpartum breastfeeding support.PLOS global public health · 2022Article
- Factors associated with post-neonatal mortality in Ethiopia: Using the 2019 Ethiopia mini demographic and health survey.PloS one · 2022Article
- Improving wasting among children under-5 years in Malawi: The role of farm input subsidies.Frontiers in public health · 2022Article
- Feeding practices and micronutrient status of children aged 0-36 months in Thulamela Municipality, Limpopo province.Health SA = SA Gesondheid · 2022Article
- Exclusive Breastfeeding Protects Young Children from Stunting in a Low-Income Population: A Study from Eastern Indonesia.Nutrients · 2021Article
- Article
- Breastfeeding Practices among Adolescent Mothers and Associated Factors in Bangladesh (2004-2014).Nutrients · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundHigh rates of early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding have been reported in Malawi, yet the underlying factors are unknown. Our objective is to examine the determinants of breastfeeding practices for mothers of infants less than 24 months old in Malawi.
methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using nationally representative data from the 2010 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used.
resultsOf 7282 women, 95.4% initiated breastfeeding within 1 hour after birth; thereafter 71.3% of women practiced exclusive breastfeeding, 6.1% predominantly breastfed, and 1.9% chose bottle feeding exclusively. The odds of early initiation were higher among women with frequent antenatal care visits and multiparous mothers. Similarly, frequent antenatal care visits and hospital delivery were positive determinants for exclusive breastfeeding. Infants at 6 months of age were more likely to predominantly breastfeed than they were at 1 month. The odds of bottle feeding were higher among women who were educated, who delivered at a hospital.
conclusionsOptimal breastfeeding practices are highly prevalent in Malawi. Health care practice emphasizing frequent antenatal care visits that provide breastfeeding education and breastfeeding support in hospital care after childbirth are important for sustaining breastfeeding.
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