Type of childbirth, skin-to-skin contact, and breastfeeding in the first hour of life in Manaus, Amazonas

Abstract

Objectives:  to evaluate the influence of type of childbirth, on skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding in the first hour of life in public maternity hospitals in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.

Methods:  cross-sectional study with 443 puerperal women from eight public maternity hospitals in Manaus (August 2023 to January 2024). Data were collected via a validated questionnaire and analyzed by logistic regression in Stata® 18.0, adjusted for sociodemographic, prenatal, and perinatal variables. Crude and adjusted odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and p-values were estimated.

Results:  vaginal delivery was associated with a higher probability of breastfeeding in the first hour of life (adjusted odds ratio = 2.05; 95%CI= 1.19-3.54; p=0.010) and skin-to-skin contact (adjusted odds ratio = 1.96; 95%CI= 1.15-3.34; p=0.013). Each additional week of gestational age increased the chance of breastfeeding in the first hour of life by 40%. Neonatal complications and the use of analgesia significantly reduced the chances of both outcomes.

Conclusions:  vaginal delivery favors skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding in the first hour of life, reinforcing the need for policies that standardize humanized practices, especially after cesarean section, for equity in neonatal care.

key words
Childbirth; Breast feeding; Cesarean section; Vaginal delivery