Journal of Semnan University of Medical Sciences
Image Credit:Koomesh
Outline
Factors Affecting Exclusive Breastfeeding in the First Six Months of Birth in Qazvin Province, Iran
Authors
Abstract
Background: Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for infants in the first six months of life.
Objectives: This study was performed to determine the influencing factors on breastfeeding by infants less than six months in Qazvin province, Iran
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed by collecting data from 1742 pairs of mothers and infants in 2021. The participants were selected through cluster sampling from urban and rural areas throughout Qazvin province. Information was collected using a checklist by a researcher in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.
Results: The average age of infants was 4.96 ± 1.23 months. The type of milk consumed by the infants at the beginning of birth and 24 hours before going to health centers had a significant relationship with the mother's occupation and education, breastfeeding in the first hour of cesarean delivery, and skin-to-skin contact in normal vaginal delivery (NVD) and cesarean delivery (P < 0.05). The type of milk consumed by the infant at the beginning of birth also had a significant relationship with the mode of delivery and maternity leave (P < 0.05). The type of milk consumed by the infant 24 hours before going to health centers was related to the father's education, pacifier use, breastfeeding in the first hour of NVD, and the health center's opinion about the infant (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Occupation, education, type of delivery, maternity leave, skin-to-skin contact in NVD and cesarean delivery, and breastfeeding in the early hours after birth were among the factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding. Adequate education for parents and maternity leave can have a positive effect on exclusive breastfeeding.
Highlights
References
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© 2025, Author(s). This open-access article is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which allows for unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is properly cited.
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