Antenatal care and breastfeeding practices in Sub-Saharan Africa: an analysis of demographic and health surveys
These findings reveal low rates of 8 + ANC contacts against a backdrop of suboptimal breastfeeding practices across sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, the results suggest limited additional benefits of 8 + ANC contacts over 4-7 contacts in promoting immediate and exclusive breastfeeding, as recommended by the WHO 2016 ANC policy. Urgent efforts are needed to promote ANC uptake and improve the quality of ANC contacts through behavior change interventions and complementary health service delivery. Sub-national, national, and global stakeholders should prioritize these interventions.
Authors
- Zoé Mistrale Hendrickson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2057-2463)
- Michael Bride (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5425-3957)
- Bolanle Olapeju (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2958-2708)
- Deborah Atobrah (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4257-7508)
- Elizabeth Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2094-6445)
- Mariam Wamala
Institutions
- University of Ghana (GH)
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (US)
- University of Pittsburgh (US)
- Ministry of Health (UG)
- Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Published
- 2025-01-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07188-w
- Citations
- 11
- Primary Topic
- Breastfeeding Practices and Influences
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 14.90