EC Gynaecology

Background: Early initiation of breastfeeding, particularly within the first hour of birth, has significant health benefits for newborns, including reduced neonatal mortality and the promotion of bonding between mother and child. Health education during antenatal care (ANC) has been suggested to play a critical role in improving early breastfeeding initiation rates.

Objective: This review aimed to investigate the impact of health education during ANC on the initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour after birth.

Methods: This literature review followed a structured methodology to identify and analyze relevant studies on the impact of health education during antenatal care (ANC) on early breastfeeding initiation. Databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched using predefined keywords, including “breastfeeding,” “early initiation,” “antenatal care,” and “health education”.

Results: There was a statistically significant association between receiving information about breastfeeding during ANC visits and early initiation. Moreover, mothers who attended more than four ANC visits were more likely to initiate breastfeeding early. Health education support after birth by medical staff was also positively associated with breastfeeding within the first hour.

Conclusion: Health education during ANC, as well as support immediately after birth, significantly improves early breastfeeding initiation rates. Therefore, healthcare providers should emphasize breastfeeding education during antenatal and postnatal care. Further interventions are needed to enhance antenatal and postnatal breastfeeding education.

 Keywords: Breastfeeding; Early Initiation; Antenatal Care; Health Education

1. World Health Organization. “Global strategy for infant and young child feeding”. Geneva: WHO (2003).
2. Pérez-Escamilla R., et al. “Impact of the baby-friendly hospital initiative on breastfeeding and child health outcomes: a systematic review”. Maternal and Child Nutrition 3 (2016): 402-417.
3. Rollins Nigel C., et al. “Why invest, and what it will take to improve breastfeeding practices?” Lancet (London, England)10017 (2016): 491-504.
4. Victora CG., et al. “Breastfeeding in the 21^st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect”. Lancet10017 (2016): 475-490.
5. “Guideline: Protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding in facilities providing maternity and newborn services”. Geneva: WHO (2017).
6. Parry K., et al. “Understanding women's interpretations of breastfeeding resources in the context of their everyday lives”. Journal of Human Lactation 2 (2020): 343-353.
7. Benahmed N., et al. “Antenatal breastfeeding education for increasing breastfeeding initiation rates”. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 5 (2021).
8. Perez-Escamilla R., et al. “Scaling up breastfeeding promotion programs in low- and middle-income countries: the breastfeeding gear model”. Advances in Nutrition 6 (2012): 790-800.
9. Lutter CK and Morrow AL. “Protection, promotion, and support and global trends in breastfeeding”. Advances in Nutrition2 (2013): 213-219.
10. Mcfadden A., et al. “Support for healthy breastfeeding mothers with healthy term babies”. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews2 (2017): CD001141.
11. Gupta A., et al. “The world breastfeeding trends initiative: implementation of the global strategy for infant and young child feeding in 84 countries”. Journal of Public Health Policy1 (2019): 35-65.
12. Agunbiade OM and Ogunleye OV. “Constraints to exclusive breastfeeding practice among breastfeeding mothers in Southwest Nigeria: Implications for scaling up”. International Breastfeeding Journal 7 (2012): 5.
13. Raihan MJ., et al. “Factors associated with delayed initiation of breastfeeding in urban slum areas of Dhaka city, Bangladesh”. International Breastfeeding Journal 1 (2021): 14.
14. Smith HA., et al. “Association between breastfeeding initiation and the timing of first postnatal visit: A multi-country study”. Maternal and Child Health Journal 7 (2020): 911-921.
15. Chantry CJ., et al. “Global issues in breastfeeding: role of the pediatrician”. Pediatric Clinics of North America 3 (2020): 505-521.
16. Victora CG., et al. “Breastfeeding and maternal and infant health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review”. The Lancet Global Health8 (2021).
17. Saadeh MR and Akre J. “Ten steps to successful breastfeeding: A summary of the rationale and scientific evidence”. Birth3 (1996): 154-160.
18. NEOVITA Study Group. “Timing of initiation, patterns of breastfeeding, and infant survival: prospective analysis of pooled data from three randomised trials”. The Lancet Global Health4 (2016): e266-e275.
19. Esteves Tania Maria Brasil., et al. “Factors associated to breastfeeding in the first hour of life: systematic review”. Revista de Saude Publica4 (2014): 697-708.
20. Trivedi N., et al. “Barriers to breastfeeding among women attending primary health centers in India”. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care 1 (2022): 133-138.
21. Sarfo M., et al. “Prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding and its associated factors among women in Mauritania: evidence from a national survey”. International Breastfeeding Journal1 (2024): 69.
22. Khan Jehangir., et al. “Timing of breastfeeding initiation and exclusivity of breastfeeding during the first month of life: effects on neonatal mortality and morbidity--a systematic review and meta-analysis”. Maternal and Child Health Journal3 (2015): 468-479.
23. Smith Emily R., et al. “Delayed breastfeeding initiation and infant survival: A systematic review and meta-analysis”. PloS one7 (2017): e0180722.
24. Moore ER., et al. “Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants”. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews11 (2016): CD003519.
25. Prior Emily., et al. “Breastfeeding after cesarean delivery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of world literature”. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition5 (2012): 1113-1135.
26. Yisma E., et al. “Impact of cesarean section on breastfeeding indicators in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis”. Maternal and Child Nutrition4 (2019): e12881.
27. Sankar MJ., et al. “Optimal breastfeeding practices and infant and child mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis”. Acta Paediatrica467 (2015): 3-13.
28. Debes AK., et al. “Time to initiation of breastfeeding and neonatal mortality and morbidity: A systematic review”. BMC Public Health3 (2013): S19.