Table 5 Breastfeeding practice and information among first-time mothers attending governmental MCH clinics of Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021
Breastfeeding practices | Categories | Frequency | Percent | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
How long after birth did you first put the child to the breast? | Immediately/within 1 h | 661 | 74.7 | ||
After an hour/few hours | 138 | 15.6 | |||
1–6 h | 120 | 13.6 | |||
7–23 h | 18 | 2.0 | |||
After a day | 29 | 3.3 | |||
After few days | 57 | 6.4 | |||
2–4 days | 35 | 4.0 | |||
5–7 days | 9 | 1.0 | |||
≥ 8 days | 13 | 1.5 | |||
If not immediately or within 1 h, what was the reason? | The child was sick | 54 | 6.1 | ||
I was sick | 63 | 7.1 | |||
I had caesarean delivery | 59 | 6.7 | |||
Other* | 48 | 5.4 | |||
Did you give anything to drink/eat other than breast milk to the infant within the 1st 3 days of delivery? | Yes | 117 | 13.2 | ||
No | 768 | 86.8 | |||
If yes, what prelacteal feed was given for your infant? | Water | 10 | 1.1 | ||
Butter | 23 | 2.6 | |||
Cow milk | 12 | 1.4 | |||
Other** | 72 | 8.1 | |||
What was the reason for introducing such prelacteal feed? | To clean infant’s bowel/throat /Mouth | 9 | 1.0 | ||
To calm/sooth the baby | 13 | 1.5 | |||
It is a culture/tradition | 12 | 1.4 | |||
Other*** | 83 | 9.4 | |||
Did you feed the colostrum to your infant during the 1st 5 days after birth? | Yes | 750 | 84.7 | ||
No | 135 | 15.3 | |||
If you didn’t give colostrum, why? | It gives abdominal pain to the baby | 19 | 2.1 | ||
It is dirty, like “pus” | 23 | 2.6 | |||
It is a tradition/culture | 25 | 2.8 | |||
Other**** | 68 | 7.7 | |||
Before the age of 6 month, have you ever fed anything in addition to breast milk to the child? | Yes | 471 | 53.2 | ||
No | 414 | 46.8 | |||
For how long since birth does your child took only breast milk (no other food/drink given)? | ≤ 1 | 67 | 7.6 | ||
2–3 | 118 | 13.3 | |||
4–5 | 286 | 32.3 | |||
≥ 6 | 414 | 46.8 | |||
What additional food/drink did you give the child for the first time? | Water | 200 | 22.6 | ||
Tea/sugar solution | 11 | 1.2 | |||
Cow’s milk | 72 | 8.1 | |||
Formula milk | 91 | 10.3 | |||
Adult food | 41 | 4.6 | |||
Other***** | 56 | 6.3 | |||
Why did you give this additional food/drink at this age? | I had to return to work | 60 | 6.8 | ||
I didn’t have enough milk | 91 | 10.3 | |||
The child was sick | 130 | 14.7 | |||
I was sick | 15 | 1.7 | |||
It is a right age for complementation | 48 | 5.4 | |||
To teach the child eating adult food | 48 | 5.4 | |||
Other****** | 79 | 8.9 | |||
Did you breastfed your child the previous day? | Yes | 839 | 94.8 | ||
No | 46 | 5.2 | |||
Have you ever get any information on breast feeding? | Yes | 633 | 71.5 | ||
No | 252 | 28.5 | |||
Information source | Health institution | Yes | 400 | 45.2 | |
No | 233 | 26.3 | |||
Books | Yes | 11 | 1.2 | ||
No | 622 | 70.3 | |||
Massmedia | Yes | 124 | 14.0 | ||
No | 509 | 57.5 | |||
Neighbors | Yes | 91 | 10.3 | ||
No | 542 | 61.2 | |||
Other sources******* | Yes | 97 | 11.0 | ||
No | 536 | 60.6 | |||