Sex inequality in early initiation of breastfeeding in 24 sub-Saharan African countries: A multi-country analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys.

Autor: Bolarinwa OA; Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa., Ahinkorah BO; School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia., Arthur-Holmes F; Department of Sociology and Social Policy, Lingnan University, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong., Aboagye RG; Department of Family and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana., Kwabena Ameyaw E; School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia., Budu E; Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana., Seidu AA; College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.; Department of Estate Management, Takoradi Technical University, Takoradi, Ghana.; Centre for Gender and Advocacy, Takoradi Technical University, Takoradi, Ghana., Ighodalo UL; Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria., Yaya S; School of International Development and Global Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, 120 University Private, Ottawa, ON, Canada.; The George Institute for Global Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: PloS one [PLoS One] 2022 May 19; Vol. 17 (5), pp. e0267703. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 May 19 (Print Publication: 2022).
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267703
Abstrakt: Background: The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 aims at reducing neonatal and under-5 mortality to below 12 per 1000 and 25 per 1000 live births, respectively, globally by 2030. Studies have found that initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth and continuous breastfeeding for over 12 months can positively impact neonatal and infant health. However, there is evidence that the sex of a child may influence the breastfeeding practices of a mother. Thus, we examined sex inequality in early breastfeeding initiation in sub-Saharan Africa.
Materials and Methods: Data from Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 24 sub-Saharan African countries between January 2010 and December 2019 were pooled and analysed. A total of 137,677 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) were considered in this study. Bivariate and multivariable regression analyses were performed, and the results were presented using crude odds ratio (cOR) and adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with statistical significance at a p-value less than 0.05.
Results: The highest inequality in early initiation of breastfeeding was reported in Togo with a difference of 5.21% between the female and male children, while the lowest inequality was reported in Guinea with 0.48% difference between the female and male children. A higher odds of breastfeeding within 1 hour was observed among female children [cOR = 1.05; 95%(CI = 1.02-1.09)] compared to male children, and this persisted after controlling for the confounders included in this study [aOR = 1.05; 95%(CI = 1.02-1.08)].
Conclusion: We found higher odds for early breastfeeding initiation of female children compared to male children in sub-Saharan Africa. To reduce breastfeeding initiation inequalities, programmes that educate and encourage early initiation of breastfeeding irrespective of the child sex should be promoted among mothers.
Competing Interests: The author(s) have declared no competing interest.
Databáze: MEDLINE
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