title: Factors Associated with Breastfeeding Initiation and Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates in Turkish Adolescent Mothers.
abstract: This study aimed to determine the early initiation time of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates during the first 6 months and the main factors affecting EBF practice in Turkish adolescent mothers.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional study was conducted with 200 adolescent mothers who were raising 6 to 24 month-old children. A face-to-face interview was conducted for sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric history, information about the baby, information about breastfeeding, and the factors affecting breastfeeding. We detected breastfeeding prevalence as well as its initiation time and duration.
  
  
  
  The mean age of the patients was 17.9 ± 1.15 years. The percentage of patients who started breastfeeding within 1 hour was 45.5%. Approximately, 74% of the adolescent mothers provided breastfeeding before any type of formula as the baby's first food. Women who initiated breastfeeding earlier had planned pregnancies, educated for breastfeeding, delivered vaginally, and had boy infants. The mothers who started breastfeeding earlier fed their babies significantly more frequently at night, had longer EBF times, and had longer total breastfeeding times than the mothers who started breastfeeding later than 2 hours. Planned pregnancy, vaginal delivery, and having a boy infant were significantly associated with early breastfeeding. Age, planned pregnancy, postpartum education, frequent breastfeeding at night, and formula initiation time were predictors of EBF.
  
  
  
  Adolescent pregnants may start breastfeeding earlier when had planned pregnancy, educated and encouraged for breastfeeding from the family and medical staff. Therefore, strategies should be formed to improve breastfeeding programs.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sami Ulus Women's Health/Children Education and Research Hospital , Ankara, Turkey .
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zekai Tahir Women's Health Education and Research Hospital , Ankara, Turkey .
authors.forename: Zehra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mevlana University School of Medicine , Konya, Turkey .
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Isık
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sami Ulus Women's Health/Children Education and Research Hospital , Ankara, Turkey .
authors.forename: Ismaıl Burak
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Gultekın
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zekai Tahir Women's Health Education and Research Hospital , Ankara, Turkey .
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Timur
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sami Ulus Women's Health/Children Education and Research Hospital , Ankara, Turkey .
authors.forename: Fadıl
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sami Ulus Women's Health/Children Education and Research Hospital , Ankara, Turkey .
authors.forename: Tuncay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kucukozkan