Sociodemographic and gynecoobstetric factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in El Salvador

Abstract

Introduction. Breast milk is the ideal food for newborns, providing all the energy and nutrients a child needs in the first months of life. Objective. Determine the sociodemographic and gynecological-obstetric factors that promoted exclusive breastfeeding before six months of age in children with mothers aged 15 to 49 in El Salvador during 2021. Methodology. Analytical cross-sectional study of the 2021 National Health Survey of El Salvador. Children aged zero to five months were included. Descriptive and bivariate analytical statistics were applied for the analysis. Results. Of the 344 participants aged zero to five months, only 69.8 % were exclusively breastfed, 2.1 % received care during childbirth in private centers, 33.7 % did not have early attachment, and 9.2 % had a very high wealth index. Conclusion. The factors that were beneficial for exclusive breastfeeding were living in a rural area, receiving medical attention during delivery, and initiating breastfeeding within one hour of birth. The study population did not benefit from exclusive breastfeeding because they received delivery care in a private center, did not achieve early attachment, and had a very high wealth index.