Factors Associated with Breastfeeding in the First Hour after Birth, in Baby Friendly Hospitals, Shiraz-Iran

Introduction: Clinical policies of “10 steps of breast feeding” proposed by World Health Organization (WHO) can promote breast feeding. The goal of this study was to evaluate breast feeding in the first hour after birth and its relation to the influencing factors. Material and methods: In this cross-sectional study, the data is related to mothers and infants referring to two baby friendly hospitals of Shiraz. The data were selected through convenience sampling method by interview, questionnaires and reviewing of medical records. Results : In this study 257 mothers and infants were studied. 94% of mothers were breast feeding and 5.8% of them were not able to breast feed. 63.8% of the infants had started breastfeeding an hour post delivery. 79% of the infants had been given to their mothers post delivery. 68.9% mothers given birth in public hospitals versus 52.2% of mothers given birth in private hospitals,75.5 % of mothers having gestational age greater than 37 weeks versus 38.9% of mothers  having gestational age less than 37 weeks, 60.1% of infants weighing more than 2500 grams versus 43.5% of infants weighing less than 2500 grams. 88% of mothers with vaginal delivery versus 40.2% of mothers with cesarean section all had started breast feeding in the first hour after birth. Conclusion: Initiation of breastfeeding in the first hour after birth was higher in mothers having diploma, gestational age greater than 37 weeks, previous history of breastfeeding, vaginal delivery, infant weighing more than 2500 gram, lack of infant disease, lack of hospitalization in NICU, rooming in, lack of prelactal feeding and delivery in public hospitals.