ArticleInternational breastfeeding journal2021
What does early initiation and duration of breastfeeding have to do with childhood mortality? Analysis of pooled population-based data in 35 sub-Saharan African countries.
Article in International breastfeeding journal, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Prevalence and contributing factors of early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC public health · 2025Pooled it
- Delayed Breastfeeding Initiation and Associated Factors in Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Decline in exclusive breastfeeding beyond early infancy, regional variations, socioeconomic influences, and growth outcomes: a population-based study from northeastern Iran.International breastfeeding journal · 2025Article
- Global, regional and national disease burden of neonatal disorders from 2000 to 2021 and the comparison before and during COVID-19: a systematic analysis.BMC public health · 2025Article
- "Breastfeeding is difficult": a qualitative exploration of exclusive breastfeeding among HIV-positive mothers in Eldoret, Kenya.International breastfeeding journal · 2025Article
- Comparative analysis of predictors of child mortality in Ethiopia via frequentist and Bayesian approaches.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Cultural, socioeconomic, and demographic factors contributing to child mortality: evidence from Sierra Leone demographic and health survey 2019.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Progress and inequalities in early initiation of breastfeeding among women in Sierra Leone, 2008-2019.International breastfeeding journal · 2025Article
- The global burden of childhood diarrheal diseases attributable to suboptimal breastfeeding from 1990 to 2021: an exploratory analysis of estimates from the global burden of disease study.International breastfeeding journal · 2025Article
- Exclusive breastfeeding and its association with intimate partner violence during pregnancy: analysis from Pakistan demographic and health survey.BMC women's health · 2024Article
- Article
- Prediction of delayed breastfeeding initiation among mothers having children less than 2 months of age in East Africa: application of machine learning algorithms.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
- Does armed conflict lead to lower prevalence of maternal health-seeking behaviours: theoretical and empirical research based on 55 683 women in armed conflict settings.BMJ global health · 2023Article
- Determinants of early initiation of breastfeeding in The Gambia: a population-based study using the 2019-2020 demographic and health survey data.International breastfeeding journal · 2023Article
- Article
- Cultural beliefs, attitudes and perceptions of lactating mothers on exclusive breastfeeding in The Gambia: an ethnographic study.BMC women's health · 2023Article
- Major maternal related determinants of non-breastfeeding among mothers in Ethiopia: A multilevel analysis from DHS Ethiopia 2016.PloS one · 2023Article
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2 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundBreastfeeding practices and their impact on infant health and survival are unquestionably of global interest. The aim of this study was to examine the link between breastfeeding initiation within one hour of birth, breastfeeding duration and childhood mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.
methodsThis study used data from the Demographic and Health Survey, which was conducted in 35 Sub-Saharan African countries between 2008 and 2017. Early initiation and duration of breastfeeding, food consumption indices, and infant mortality were all important variables. Analysis used percentage, median/interquartile range, and regression models (logistic, linear, Cox).
resultsEarly initiation of breastfeeding within one hour after birth was lowest in Chad (23.0%) and highest in Burundi (85.0%). The pooled median duration of breastfeeding was 12 months. Female children had 3% significant lower odds of consuming tinned, powdered or fresh milk, compared with male children (OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.94, 0.99). Conversely, female children were more likely to be put to breast within one hour after birth, compared with male children (OR 1.03; 95% CI 1.01, 1.05). Results from the pooled sample showed approximately 20% (HR 0.80; 95% CI 0.67, 0.96) and 21% (HR 0.79; 95% CI 0.77, 0.80) reduction in infant mortality for children breastfed within one hour after birth and for every unit increase in the months of breastfeeding respectively. In addition, countries with the leading infant mortality rate include; Sierra Leone (92 deaths per 1000 live births), Chad (72 deaths per 1000 live births), Nigeria (69 deaths per 1000 live births), Cote d' Ivoire (68 deaths per 1000 live births), Guinea (67 deaths per 1000 live births), Burkina-Faso (65 deaths per 1000 live births) and Mozambique (64 deaths per 1000 live births) respectively.
conclusionsThe findings from this study underscores the need for early breastfeeding initiation and prolong breastfeeding to be considered in programmes on improving childhood survival. Efforts should be made to improve optimal breastfeeding practices as only about half of children in the pooled sample had best practices of breastfeeding.
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