Abstract

Introduction: Timely initiation of breastfeeding within one hour after birth and exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months of infant life along with continuation of breastfeeding up to two years. Globally over 1 million babies would be saved each year by timely initiating of breastfeeding. Study on prevalence of early initiation of breast feeding was limited in southern Ethiopia. So this study was aimedto assess the prevalence of timely initiation of breastfeeding practices among primi-para mothers whose infants six months of age and under in Bedessa town, southern Ethiopia.
Methods: Community based quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July 2018. The systematic random sampling technique was applied to select 413 study participants.
Results: The prevalence of timely initiation of breastfeeding was 81.1% and 91.04% of mothers were give their colostrum to their infant. Lack of information about timely initiation of breastfeeding was recorded as a barrier by 48 (11.62%) participants in this study.
Conclusion and recommendations: Prevalence of timely initiation of breast feeding in the study area was low compared to EDHS 2016 plan. Wherever possible, relevant information regarding early initiation of breastfeeding should be warned to all mothers.

Keywords: Prevalence; Timely initiation; Breastfeeding; Ethiopia