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Determinants of Delayed Initiation of Breastfeeding: A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates

Author

Listed:
  • Zainab Taha

    (Department of Health Sciences, College of Natural and Health Sciences, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 144534, United Arab Emirates)

  • Aysha Ibrahim Al Dhaheri

    (Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 144534, United Arab Emirates)

  • Ludmilla Wikkeling-Scott

    (School of Community Health and Policy, Portage Campus, Morgan State University, 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251, USA)

  • Ahmed Ali Hassan

    (Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 144534, United Arab Emirates
    Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Sunderland, Sunderland SR1 3NX, UK)

  • Dimitrios Papandreou

    (Department of Health Sciences, College of Natural and Health Sciences, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 144534, United Arab Emirates)

Abstract

One of the best practices to reduce the risk of infant morbidity and mortality is the early initiation of breastfeeding, specifically within the first hour of birth, as the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends. Limited data exist on breastfeeding initiation and its related factors in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.). Therefore, the purpose of this research study was to evaluate and analyze the determinant factors associated with delayed initiation of breastfeeding among mothers with children aged <2 years old in a cross-sectional multicenter setting in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. Seven governmental community and healthcare centers participated in the study from diverse geographic areas of Abu Dhabi. A trained female research assistant collected information from mothers with young children attending the centers. All participants were informed in detail about the purpose of the study and signed a written consent form. A total of 1610 mother–child pairs were included in the study. The mean (standard deviation) of maternal age and children’s age was 30.1 (5.1) years and 8.1 (5.9) months, respectively. Six hundred and four (604) (37.5%) reported delayed initiation of breastfeeding. Factors associated with delayed breastfeeding initiation were being of non-Arab nationality (adjusted odds ratio (A.O.R.) 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03, 1.63), caesarean section (AOR 2.85, 95% CI 2.26, 3.58), non-rooming-in (AOR 2.82, 95% CI 1.53, 5.21), first birth order (AOR 1.34, 95% CI 1.07, 1.69), and mothers with low-birth-weight children (AOR 3.30, 95% CI 2.18, 4.99) as was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. In conclusion, approximately four out of ten mothers delayed initiation of breastfeeding for more than one hour after delivery. The results of this study call for urgent policy changes to improve the early initiation rates of breastfeeding mothers in the U.A.E.

Suggested Citation

  • Zainab Taha & Aysha Ibrahim Al Dhaheri & Ludmilla Wikkeling-Scott & Ahmed Ali Hassan & Dimitrios Papandreou, 2022. "Determinants of Delayed Initiation of Breastfeeding: A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-10, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:15:p:9048-:d:871358
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Krystyra Mikiel-Kostyra & Joanna Mazur & Elzbieta Wojdan-Godek, 2005. "Factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding in Poland: cross-sectional survey of population-based samples," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 50(1), pages 52-59, February.
    2. Vishnu Khanal & Jane A. Scott & Andy H. Lee & Rajendra Karkee & Colin W. Binns, 2015. "Factors associated with Early Initiation of Breastfeeding in Western Nepal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-13, August.
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