Early initiation of breastfeeding offers nutritional and immunological benefits to the newborn, which is critical for health and survival. Understanding factors associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding is crucial for healthcare providers and policy-makers. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with early initiation of breastfeeding among mothers with children < 24 months of age in the Kilimanjaro region, Northern Tanzania. This study utilized secondary data from a cross-sectional survey conducted in April 2016 and April 2017 in the Kilimanjaro region. A multistage sampling technique was used to select study participants and interviewed using a questionnaire. A total of 1644 women with children aged < 24 months were analyzed. Modified Poisson regression models were used to determine factors independently associated with early initiation of breastfeeding, within first hour of life. The prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding in the Kilimanjaro region was 70%, ranging from 64% in Same to 80% in Siha districts. The prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding was lower among women who initiated prelacteal feeding compared to their counterparts (prevalence ratio [PR] 0.42; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.34, 0.53). Likewise, women living in Same and Hai district had lower prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding compared to women in Rombo (PR 0.8; 95% CI 0.76, 0.93) and (PR 0.89, 95% CI 0.80, 0.98) respectively. Higher prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding was found in women with primary education compared to those with secondary education (PR 1.09; 95% CI 1.003, 1.18), and among women with two children compared to one child (PR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03, 1.26). Early initiation of breastfeeding practice was suboptimal in this study. To improve early initiation of breastfeeding, healthcare providers at reproductive and child health clinics and labour wards should discourage women from prelacteal feeding, give more support to women with one child and those with secondary level of education and above. Furthermore, a qualitative study is crucial to understand the reasons for low prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding in Same and Hai districts.

中文翻译：

---

坦桑尼亚北部乞力马扎罗地区 24 个月以下儿童早期开始母乳喂养的流行率和相关因素：一项基于社区的横断面研究。

尽早开始母乳喂养可为新生儿提供营养和免疫益处，这对健康和生存至关重要。了解与及时开始母乳喂养相关的因素对于医疗保健提供者和政策制定者至关重要。本研究旨在评估坦桑尼亚北部乞力马扎罗山地区有 24 个月以下孩子的母亲早期开始母乳喂养的流行率和相关因素。本研究利用了 2016 年 4 月和 2017 年 4 月在乞力马扎罗山地区进行的横断面调查的二手数据。使用多阶段抽样技术选择研究参与者并使用问卷进行访谈。共分析了 1644 名孩子小于 24 个月的妇女。使用修正的泊松回归模型来确定与出生后第一小时内早期开始母乳喂养独立相关的因素。乞力马扎罗山地区早期开始母乳喂养的流行率为 70%，从萨姆的 64% 到西哈地区的 80%。与同龄人相比，开始乳前喂养的女性早期开始母乳喂养的流行率较低（流行率 [PR] 0.42；95% 置信区间 [CI] 0.34, 0.53）。同样，与 Rombo 的妇女相比，生活在 Same 和 Hai 地区的妇女早期开始母乳喂养的流行率分别较低 (PR 0.8；95% CI 0.76, 0.93) 和 (PR 0.89, 95% CI 0.80, 0.98)。与受过中等教育的妇女相比，受过初等教育的妇女早期开始母乳喂养的发生率更高（PR 1. 09; 95% CI 1.003, 1.18)，以及有两个孩子的女性与一个孩子的比较 (PR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03, 1.26)。在这项研究中，早期开始母乳喂养实践并不理想。为改善母乳喂养的早期开始，生殖和儿童健康诊所和产房的医疗保健提供者应劝阻妇女进行乳前喂养，更多地支持有一个孩子的妇女和中等及以上教育水平的妇女。此外，定性研究对于了解萨姆和海地区早期开始母乳喂养率低的原因至关重要。生殖和儿童健康诊所和产房的医疗保健提供者应劝阻妇女不要进行乳前喂养，为有一个孩子的妇女和中等及以上教育水平的妇女提供更多支持。此外，定性研究对于了解萨姆和海地区早期开始母乳喂养率低的原因至关重要。生殖和儿童健康诊所和产房的医疗保健提供者应劝阻妇女不要进行乳前喂养，为有一个孩子的妇女和中等及以上教育水平的妇女提供更多支持。此外，定性研究对于了解萨姆和海地区早期开始母乳喂养率低的原因至关重要。