title: Knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding early start of breastfeeding among pregnant, lactating women and healthcare workers in El-Minia University Hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breastfeeding within the first hour of life is a potential mechanism for health promotion and is considered to be an indicator of excellence of breastfeeding. This study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding early breastfeeding initiation within the first hour of life in both the Pediatrics and Gynecology and Obstetrics Departments of Minia University Hospital, Minia, Egypt.
  
  
  METHODS
  A study was conducted on four groups of participants from both the Pediatrics and Gynecology and Obstetrics Departments of Minia University Hospital, each of them consisting of 30 individuals, using a questionnaire to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding early breastfeeding initiation for each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty percent of women delivered by spontaneous vaginal delivery and 16.7% of those delivered by cesarean section initiated breastfeeding within 30 minutes to 1 hour after birth. Forty percent of lactating women delivered by spontaneous vaginal delivery, 83.3% of lactating women delivered by cesarean section, and 36.7% of healthcare workers used prelacteal feed instead of early breastfeeding initiation. The most important factors affecting the breastfeeding initiation were maternal illness followed by immediate skin-to-skin contact.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the majority of women participating in this study exhibited knowledge about early breastfeeding initiation, actual application of this practice was clearly deficient. In order to improve the rates of breastfeeding initiation within the first hour of life we should enhance vaginal delivery and prenatal classes and implement Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative policies in both the Pediatrics and Gynecology and Obstetrics Departments of Minia University Hospital.
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics Department, Children and Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Salem A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sallam
authors.forename: Gihan M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Babrs
authors.forename: Refaat R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Sadek
authors.forename: Amna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mostafa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007774:Lactation; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011050:Policy Making; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors