Breastfeeding initiation and duration in Lebanon: are the hospitals "mother friendly"?

Abstract

Eight hundred and thirty mothers and their children aged 1 to 5 years were studied to identify the determinants of breastfeeding initiation and perseverance in relation to hospital policies. Only 18.3% of the mothers initiated breastfeeding within half an hour after birth. Mothers whose baby was brought to them every 3 hours or less were 2.5 times and mothers whose infants were brought to them for night feedings were 3 times more likely to initiate breastfeeding a few hours after birth. Mother's occupational status and whether she was breastfed were significantly associated with breastfeeding duration.