PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The World Health Organization advocates for the early initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding for approximately the first six months of life, and continued breastfeeding with the addition of complementary foods for as long as desired by both mother and child, potentially for two years or more. However, global exclusive breastfeeding rates for the recommended six months are only around 33%. Additionally, an estimated 78 million newborns did not receive breastfeeding within one hour of delivery, with babies born via caesarean route being more affected. Newborns who started breastfeeding after one hour of birth had a 33% or greater risk of neonatal mortality compared with those who started within one hour. The attitude of shifting to formula feeds as a sign of development/ wealth, coupled with the rapidly rising rate of caesarean births, will result in a dramatic decline in optimal breastfeeding if the current trend continues.

Ethiopia is Africa's second-most populous nation, with over 115 million people, and more than 80% live in rural areas with limited access to information, education, and healthcare services. The neonatal mortality rate in Ethiopia has remained nearly the same for the last ten years, with a rate of 33/1000 live births. Even though the caesarean rate at the population level is low, hospital-based studies in Ethiopia reported that in some hospitals, up to 30% of deliveries are by caesarean route. In the study setting, after a caesarean delivery, the baby is handed to the family outside of the operation theatre while the mother stays in the operating room until her full recovery. Special health promotion, intervention, and individualized support by trained health professionals for the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding are among the recommended interventions that need to be considered for mothers who give birth through caesarean delivery.