title: Timely initiation of breastfeeding is associated with the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Exclusive breastfeeding has been proven to be essential for optimal health, and for reducing infections and mortality in children. However, exclusive breastfeeding coverage both in Indonesia and in globalremains low. This study evaluated the relationship between the timely initiation of breastfeeding and the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study used Riskesdas 2013 data. Participants were 7,667 mothers whose children were aged 6-23 months in Indonesia, and were selected based on the completeness of the variables. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chisquare tests, and a multiple logistic regression that considered the sampling weight. STATA 13.0 was used for the analyses, and the significance level was set at p<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Timely initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of parturition (OR=3.66, 95% CI: 2.14-3.64), timely initiation of breastfeeding at or after 1 hour following parturition (OR=2.79, 95% CI: 3.00-4.46), and neonatal illness (OR=0.69, 95% CI: 0.53-0.91) were significantly associated with an exclusive breastfeeding history among children aged 6-23 months. Other factors, such as the mother's age, mother's educational level, child's birth weight, household economic status, and residential area were not associated with an exclusive breastfeeding history.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Timely initiation of breastfeeding and the prevention of neonatal illness should be the main interventions to improve exclusive breastfeeding coverage in Indonesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences Universitas Alma Ata, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Email: pshanti.bunga@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bunga Astria
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Paramashanti
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences Universitas Alma Ata, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Hamam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Poltekkes Kemenkes Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
authors.forename: I Made Alit
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Gunawan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016017:Odds Ratio; D049590:Postpartum Period; D055815:Young Adult