Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39764605›Full record

SynthesisMaternal & child nutrition2025

Early Initiation of Breastfeeding and Exclusive Breastfeeding in Anglophone and Francophone West African Countries: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prevalence.

Martha Osekua Lewis-Koku, Catharine A K Fleming, Lucy Ngaihbanglovi Pachuau, Nagwa Farag Elmighrabi, Kingsley Emwinyore Agho

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Maternal & child nutrition, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Martha Osekua Lewis-KokuSchool of Health Science, Western Sydney University, NSW, Australia.ORCID 0009-0003-6161-9560
Catharine A K FlemingSchool of Health Science, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia.
Lucy Ngaihbanglovi PachuauSchool of Health Science, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia.
Nagwa Farag ElmighrabiSchool of Health Science, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia.
Kingsley Emwinyore AghoSchool of Health Science, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-4111-3207

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) are highly effective forms of preventive medicine in many low- and middle-income countries, including Anglophone and Francophone West African countries. Despite the proven benefits of EIBF and EBF in reducing mortality and morbidity, there is limited systematic evidence from West African countries. Hence, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the pooled prevalence of EIBF and EBF in Anglophone and Francophone West African countries. Six databases were searched for eligible studies based on inclusion criteria and a systematic review and a further meta-analysis were done. The weighted prevalence of EIBF was 51.7% (95% CI: 48.8, 54.6) in Anglophone West African countries and 45.5% (95% CI: 42.0, 48.9) in Francophone West African countries. The pooled prevalence of EBF was 41.2% (95% CI: 36.9, 45.5) in Anglophone West African countries and 30.1% (95% CI: 26.7, 33.5) in Francophone West African countries. Our study showed that the weighted average EIBF and EBF prevalence tended to be higher from studies in Anglophone West African countries than in Francophone West African countries. Despite these findings, EIBF and EBF rates overall in West African countries were suboptimal. A substantial improvement is necessary in promoting EIBF and EBF in West African countries. Programmes should target all mothers in the region no matter their colonial allegiance to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 3 by 2030.

Indexed as

Breast FeedingAfrica, WesternFemaleHumansInfantInfant, NewbornPrevalenceAnglophoneearly initiationexclusive breastfeedingFrancophoneindicatorsprevalenceWest Africa

Identifiers

PMID39764605
PMCPMC11956053

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.