Fatores associados à amamentação na primeira hora de vida Factors associated with breastfeeding in the fi rst hour of life

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with breastfeeding in the fi rst hour of life (Step 4 of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative sample of mothers who gave birth in maternity wards in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil, between 1999 and 2001. Newborns or mothers with restriction to breastfeeding were excluded, resulting in a sample of 8,397 pairs. A random effect – at maternity hospital level – Poisson model was employed in a hierarchical approach with three levels: distal, intermediate and proximal for characteristics of the mother, of the newborn, and of prenatal and hospital assistance. RESULTS: Only 16% of the mothers breastfed in the fi rst hour of life. Breastfeeding in this period was less prevalent among neonates with immediate intercurrences after birth (PR = 0.47; CI99% 0.15;0.80); among mothers who did not have contact with their newborns in the delivery room (PR = 0.62; CI99% 0.29;0.95); among mothers submitted to cesarean section delivery (PR = 0.48; CI99% 0.24;0.72); and among mothers who gave birth at private maternity hospitals (PR = 0.06; CI99% 0.01;0.19) or at maternity hospitals contracted out to National Health System (SUS) (PR = 0.16; CI99% 0.01;0.30). The context effect of maternity wards was statistically signifi cant.