Early initiation of breastfeeding—putting a newborn to the breast within the first hour after birth—ensures that the infant receives essential protection factors via colostrum, and it also increases the likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding and the overall duration of breastfeeding.

Cesarean section deliveries have been systematically and directly associated with delayed initiation of breastfeeding. Some obsolete practices in health facilities and the lack of knowledge about breastfeeding after cesareans inhibit that children are put to breast after birth. Cesarean section may negatively affect the success of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative by reducing breastfeeding practices, regardless of whether it is a public or private institution.

Although several studies have examined the relationship between type of delivery (vaginal or cesarean) and timing of breastfeeding initiation, the role of the place of birth (public or private institution) on the early initiation of breastfeeding has not yet been widely investigated in multi-country analyses.

In this study, we sought to investigate the association between early initiation of breastfeeding and the type of delivery by place of birth covering 73 national health surveys in low- and middle-income countries.

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