Prevalence and factors associated with skin-to-skin contact (SSC) practice: findings from a population-based cross-sectional survey in 10 selected districts of Bangladesh

Abstract

Background Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) practice improves newborn survival and child development through preventing hypothermia in newborns, improving early initiation of breastfeeding practice, and strengthening mother-child bonding. Despite having numerous benefits, it is one of the least practiced interventions in low and middle-income countries (1 to 74%). In Bangladesh, the prevalence of SSC was 26% in 2014. In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of SSC in the study districts and identify factors that facilitate or inhibit SSC practice so that context-specific recommendations can be made to advance the use of this intervention. Methods We used baseline household survey data of USAID’s MaMoni MNCSP project conducted in 10 districts of Bangladesh in 2019. Our analysis included 13,695 recently delivered women (RDW) with a live birth outcome. Our primary outcome was the mother’s reported practice of SSC. We examined various antepartum, intrapartum, newborn, and sociodemographic factors associated with SSC using a multivariable generalized linear model. Our findings were reported using adjusted Prevalence Risk Ratios (aPRRs) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs). Results Overall, 28% of RDW reported practicing SSC across the 10 surveyed districts. Our multivariable analysis showed that public facility delivery (aPRR 2.01; 95%CI: 1.80, 2.26), private facility delivery (aPRR 1.23; 95%CI: 1.06, 1.42) and ≥ 4 antenatal care (ANC) visits at least one from a medically trained provider (MTP) (aPRR 1.17; 95%CI: 1.03, 1.26) had a significant positive association with SSC practice. Caesarean section (aPRR 0.64; 95%CI: 0.56, 0.73) had a significant negative association with SSC practice compared to vaginal births. We also found a significant positive association of SSC practice with mothers’ who perceived the birth size of their baby to be small, mothers with a higher education level (≥10 years), and mothers from households in the highest wealth quintile. Conclusions The prevalence of SSC is very low in the surveyed districts of Bangladesh. Considering the factors associated with SSC, relevant stakeholders need to increase their efforts on improving ANC and facility delivery coverages as well as improving SSC practice in the facilities especially after caesarean deliveries. Countries with a high burden of home deliveries, also need to emphasize community-based interventions and increasing coverage of skilled birth attendance for improving this life-saving intervention.

Spatial variation and determinants of mother and newborn skin-to-skin contact care practices in Ethiopia: A spatial and multilevel mixed-effect analysis

“…The other striking finding of this study was that mothers who delivered at health facilities are associated with high odds of SCC practices as compared to their counterparts. The finding is consistent with studies conducted elsewhere [20,28,31,32]. It is a fact that in the health facility, there are trained and skilled health professionals, such that they can support mothers to practice SCC.…”

Prevalence and predictors of mother and newborn skin-to-skin contact at birth in Papua New Guinea

“…The prevalence of mother and newborn SSC in Papua New Guinea is 45.2%. This prevalence observed in this study is relatively higher than the prevalence of mother and newborn SSC reported in previous studies in Gambia (35.7%),20 Ethiopia (28.1%),21 Nigeria (12.1%),18 and Bangladesh (28%) 24. Also, another recent study conducted in Southern Ethiopia found the prevalence of mother and newborn SSC to be 35.3% 22.…”

“…This prevalence observed in this study is relatively higher than the prevalence of mother and newborn SSC reported in previous studies in Gambia (35.7%), 20 Ethiopia (28.1%), 21 Nigeria (12.1%), 18 and Bangladesh (28%). 24 Also, another recent study conducted in Southern Ethiopia found the prevalence of mother and Open access newborn SSC to be 35.3%. 22 However, the prevalence observed in our study is lower than the prevalence found in a study conducted in Singapore, which reported SSC to be 84.0%.…”

Level of skin-to-skin care practices among postnatal mothers in Ethiopia. A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…This result is higher than a study conducted in Africa that indicated a 1–9% prevalence of SSC [ 26 ]. The finding is also higher than the study done in Bangladeshi 28 % [ 27 ] and Arabian countries 25 % [ 28 ]. The disparity of the results is from the variation in the number of articles incorporated into the analysis.…”