Failure to early initiation of breastfeeding as a risk factor for exclusive breastfeeding failure: a secondary analysis of the 2017 Indonesian health demographic survey

Early Initiation of Breastfeeding (EIBF) is a factor that determines the success of exclusive breastfeeding. This study aims to determine the relationship between EIB and exclusive breastfeeding in children aged 6-24 months in Indonesia. This study, using the 2017 Indonesian Health Demographic Survey (IDHS) with a cross-sectional study design approach. The sample is children aged 6-24 months in Indonesia. The independent variable is the provision of Early Initiation of Breastfeeding. The dependent variable is exclusive breastfeeding.The confounding variables are family characteristics (economic status, place of residence), children (child sex, child birth weight), and mother (mother's age, mother's education, birth attendant, paritas, mother's occupation).The results of the study show 56.2% of mothers had EIB and exclusive breastfeeding coverage was 57.4%. There was a significant relationship between EIB and exclusive breastfeeding (p=0.000). Mothers who did not do EIB had a 2.855 times risk of not exclusive breastfeeding compared to those who did EIB (OR 95% CI: 2,552–3,194) after controlling for factors of residence, socio-economic and parity. There is a need for a socialization and education movement about the importance of EIB for the success of exclusive breastfeeding so that children can grow and develop optimally according to the child's age.