Comparison of factors affecting early initiation of breastfeeding among postnatal mothers with vaginal delivery versus cesarean delivery at Maternity Hospital SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar, Kashmir

Abstract

Background: Early initiation of breast feeding is defined as the proportion of children who were brought to the breasts within one hour of birth. Early initiation of breast feeding within one hour of birth, protects the newborn from acquiring infection and reduces newborn mortality. It facilitates emotional bonding of the mother and the baby. The present study aimed to compare the factors affecting early initiation of breastfeeding among postnatal mothers with vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery and to associate early initiation of breastfeeding with demographic variables of postnatal mothers.

Methodology: Comparative descriptive design was used to select 100 postnatal mothers (50 vaginal delivery/50 cesarean delivery) through purposive sampling technique at Maternity Hospital, SKIMS, Soura. Self-structured interview schedule was administered to compare the factors affecting early initiation of breastfeeding among postnatal mothers with vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery.

Results: Majority of study subjects with vaginal delivery (74%) and very few number of study subjects with cesarean delivery (22%) had initiated breastfeeding within one hour where as 26% of study subjects with vaginal delivery and 78% of study subjects with cesarean delivery didn’t initiate breastfeeding within one hour. There was statistically significant comparison in  the factors of postnatal mothers with vaginal delivery and caesarean delivery like (knowledge about breastfeeding,  antenatal education regarding breastfeeding, birth spacing, less   fatigue/exhaustion due to vaginal delivery, pain due to episiotomy or surgical wound ,baby’s admission in NICU, nipple problems , gestational age(term/ pre-term), perception of evil eye , pre-lacteal feed, lack of privacy, lack of provision of assistance from attendants and health personnel), while no significant comparison was found in  the factors of postnatal mothers like (previous experience of breastfeeding, birth order, feeding colostrum) with vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery at 0.05 level of significance

Conclusion: Study subjects with vaginal delivery who initiated breastfeeding was higher as compared to study subjects with cesarean delivery. This is attributed to various factors like knowledge and antenatal education regarding breastfeeding, birth spacing, less fatigue or exhaustion, gestational age. Cesarean delivery mothers need support to breast feed their babies on first day.

How to cite this article:
Hijazi R, Ismail S, Kachroo M, Rather A S, Akhtar
K, Bashir N, Rahim R, Jaileel B, Nazir I, Wani
J A, Munawar T, Bhat A J, Farooq S, Falak N,
Hamid H, Sharma N. Comparison of Factors
Affecting Early Initiation of Breastfeeding Among
Postnatal Mothers with Vaginal Delivery Versus
Cesarean Delivery at Maternity Hospital Skims,
Soura, Srinagar, Kashmir. Ind J Holist Nurs.
2024;15(3):25-34.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2348.2133.202408