Breastfeeding practices and associated factors among mothers with new-born babies attending Kenyatta National Hospital

Objective: To establish breastfeeding practices among mothers with new-born babies attending Kenyatta National HospitalDesign: The study adopted a mixed methods cross sectional design using qualitative and quantitative methodsSetting: Kenyatta National HospitalSubjects: Mothers with new-born babies attending postnatal clinic and pediatric unit at Kenyatta National HospitalMain outcome measures: Demographic characteristics and breastfeeding practicesResults: Slightly above half 51.5% (n=103) of the respondents had good breastfeeding practise while 48.5% (n=97) had poor breastfeeding practices. Age (OR=2.8, 95% CI 1.3 – 5.4, p=0.008), level of education (OR=2.4, 95% CI 1.6 – 4.1, p=0.011) and antenatal care initiation (OR=3.4, 95% CI 2.3 – 5.9, p=0.011) were significant.Conclusion: Although breastfeeding initiation was poor, majority of the women breastfed on demand and had good body positioning and emotional bonding during breastfeeding. Health education given to mothers in antenatal care should therefore emphasise that mothers initiate breastfeeding immediately after birth.