Early initiation of breastfeeding and its association with peer counseling and membership in breastfeeding support groups in the Philippines
Abstract Background: Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF), defined as initiation of breastfeeding within one hour after giving birth, is one of the recommended optimal breastfeeding practices. We aimed to determine whether being visited by a peer counselor during pregnancy and if mother’s membership in a breastfeeding support group are associated with EIBF. We also aimed to examine the interaction between the two main exposure variables to assess their joint effects on EIBF.Methods: We used data from the endline survey of a program implemented in the Philippines, which contained socioeconomic data from the household of the mother-newborn dyads, demographic characteristics of the mothers, and their infant and young child feeding practices. We used logistic regression methods for survey data to study these associations.Results: Out of the 2,343 newborns, only 1,500 (63.1%) had EIBF. Upon controlling for confounders, those who were visited by a peer counselor during the prenatal period had 1.18 times greater odds of EIBF (95%CI: 0.88-1.57; p=0.26) compared to those who were not visited. On the other hand, members of breastfeeding support groups had 1.33 times higher odds of EIBF (95% CI: 0.99-1.79; p=0.06) compared to those who were not members of breastfeeding support groups. There is no interaction between the two exposure variables on their effect on EIBF. Conclusions: The lack of association between a visit by a peer counselor during pregnancy or mother’s membership in breastfeeding support groups and EIBF highlights the need for new strategies to enhance the role of peer counselors and breastfeeding support groups in promoting breastfeeding.