Abstract
Exploring the determinants of timely initiation of breastfeeding is necessary for planning efficient breastfeeding promotion programmes. The present study aimed to investigate the frequency and related factors of timely initiation of breastfeeding among Turkish mothers. This study was a cross-sectional, descriptive, mixed model study, which was carried out on mothers with healthy children up to 3 years old who presented to the paediatric clinic between 01 November 2019 and 30 December 2019 in a university hospital. Of the 307 participant mothers, the mean age was 28.3 ± 3.9 years. The frequency of timely initiation of breastfeeding was 70.7%. Significant associations were found between timely initiation of breastfeeding status and residence, type of delivery, type of anaesthesia, birth weight of babies, counselling on timely initiation of breastfeeding during antenatal care and consultant medical staff. In order to increase the breastfeeding rate in the first hour, spontaneous vaginal delivery should be supported and spinal/epidural anaesthesia method should be preferred in cases where caesarean delivery is indicated. Other important steps to increase the ratio of timely initiation of breastfeeding are strengthening breastfeeding counselling services and the midwifery system.