article · PLoS ONE
An analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys from 24 sub-Saharan African countries examined sex inequalities in the early initiation of breastfeeding. Looking at survey data collected between 2010 and 2019 from 137,677 women of reproductive age, the study investigated whether the sex of a newborn influenced whether breastfeeding began within one hour of birth. The results showed that female children had slightly higher odds of early breastfeeding initiation compared to male children, even after adjusting for confounding factors. The extent of this inequality varied across countries: Togo recorded the highest disparity between female and male children, whereas Guinea showed the lowest disparity. The findings suggest that programmes aimed at educating and encouraging mothers to start breastfeeding early should emphasise equal treatment regardless of infant sex.
Early breastfeeding initiation is a key intervention for reducing neonatal and child mortality, supporting global development targets. Identifying that a newborn child's sex affects feeding practices reveals a specific behavioural barrier to optimal infant care. This knowledge allows public health agencies and maternal health initiatives to design targeted educational interventions that ensure both male and female infants receive essential nutritional support immediately after birth.
The abstract does not indicate a commercial application pathway, as it focuses on epidemiological analysis and public health policy recommendations.
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BACKGROUND: The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 aims at reducing neonatal and under-5 mortality to below 12 per 1000 and 25 per 1000 live births, respectively, globally by 2030. Studies have found that initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth and continuous breastfeeding for over 12 months can positively impact neonatal and infant health. However, there is evidence that the sex of a child may influence the breastfeeding practices of a mother. Thus, we examined sex inequality in early breastfeeding initiation in sub-Saharan Africa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 24 sub-Saharan African countries between January 2010 and December 2019 were pooled and analysed. A total of 137,677 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) were considered in this study. Bivariate and multivariable regression analyses were performed, and the results were presented using crude odds ratio (cOR) and adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with statistical significance at a p-value less than 0.05. RESULTS: The highest inequality in early initiation of breastfeeding was reported in Togo with a difference of 5.21% between the female and male children, while the lowest inequality was reported in Guinea with 0.48% difference between the female and male children. A higher odds of breastfeeding within 1 hour was observed among female children [cOR = 1.05; 95%(CI = 1.02-1.09)] compared to male children, and this persisted after controlling for the confounders included in this study [aOR = 1.05; 95%(CI = 1.02-1.08)]. CONCLUSION: We found higher odds for early breastfeeding initiation of female children compared to male children in sub-Saharan Africa. To reduce breastfeeding initiation inequalities, programmes that educate and encourage early initiation of breastfeeding irrespective of the child sex should be promoted among mothers.
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DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267703
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