Table 1 Descriptive characteristics of neonates and mothers in the study area (n = 25,286)
From: Early newborn ritual foods correlate with delayed breastfeeding initiation in rural Bangladesh
Characteristic | Total: n = 25,286 |
|---|---|
Maternal age, years: mean ± SD | 21.9 ± 5.7 |
Primigravid: n (%) | 9,493 (37.5) |
Wealth index: mean ± SD | 0.01 ± 1.0 |
Maternal literacy: n (%) | 12,002 (47.5) |
Female child gender: n (%) | 12,574 (49.7) |
Perceived child size at birtha: n (%) | |
Small | 6,071 (24.0) |
Normal | 9,449 (37.4) |
Large | 9,766 (38.6) |
Fed early newborn food (ENF) n (%) | 22,648 (89.6) |
Colostrum fed: n (%) | 24,071 (95.2) |
Difficulty suckling at birth: n (%) | 7,466 (29.5) |
Hours to breastfeeding initiation: mean ± SD | 30.6 ± 27.9 |
Location of birth | |
At home | 23,680 (93.7) |
At a family welfare visitor’s house | 277 (1.1) |
Clinic/hospital | 670 (2.7) |
Enroute, other, or don’t know | 652 (2.6) |
Baby delivered by Caesarean section | 457 (1.8) |
Birth attendant type: n (%) | |
No one present | 389 (1.5) |
Friend/neighbor/relative | 18,199 (72.0) |
Traditional birth attendant | 5,716 (22.6) |
Health care professional | 970 (3.8) |
Other | 4 (<0.1) |