Introduction Statistics show a declining trend despite the many benefits of breastfeeding. Aim The aim was to investigate how new mothers experienced the care associated with childbirth, with focus on breastfeeding. Method The study included mothers who gave birth in a hospital in the middle region of Sweden during 2011, and who responded to an online survey (n≈1000). The present study was based upon answers from the open questions concerning dissatisfaction and suggestions for improvement and have been categorized using content analysis. Results Mothers described failure in several areas, with a negative impact on breastfeeding. Many experienced that they had not been seen and treated like an individual, and that the healthcare staff had been unpleasant, impersonal, ignorant and stressed. Mothers wanted more credit from the staff concerning their own ability and some reported that they had been controlled and ”run over”. They experienced care work as unstructured with failure in both procedures and communication. Lack of staff continuity made it difficult for mothers to feel trust and create a relationship. Furthermore, major failure in information and support was reported. Conclusion Although the majority of mothers were satisfied with the early care after giving birth, the open answers showed several areas in need of improvements, among other things individualized care was requested.

Newborn morbidity and mortality remains high despite a remarkable decline in the infant mortality and under five mortality rates in Nepal over the last decade (1996-2006). Research shows that newborns’ health outcome is associated with maternal and other factors. This study was designed to understand the factors that have an impact on three good newborn care practices: safe cord cutting, early breastfeeding and delayed bathing. The study used the interview data of 815 married women aged 15-49 years who delivered a live baby between February 2008 and February 2009, collected for the baseline survey of the Community-Based Maternal and Newborn Health program implemented in the Sindhuli district of Nepal. The mean age of the sample women was 26 years. Two-thirds of them were from disadvantaged indigenous caste/ethnicity groups, about 70% were uneducated and the majority were poor. Safe cord cutting, early breastfeeding and delayed bathing practices were studied for 803, 810 and 812 women respectively and 70.7%, 46.7%, and 16.6% of the eligible samples demonstrated the practices respectively. The logistic regression method was used to examine the association of independent factors with the outcome variables. Social gradient was found to be associated with all three practices. Rich women were more likely to demonstrate good practices and bearing a child at the prime age (20-34 years) was likely to result in safe cord cutting. Disadvantaged indigenous and ‘other’ caste/ethnicity women demonstrated unsafe cord cutting practices and dalit caste/ethnicity women demonstrated poor bathing practices. Maternal knowledge also emerged as a strong predictor of early breastfeeding and delayed bathing practices. Antenatal care from a SBA determined good breastfeeding and advice from a FCHV determined good bathing practices. The results showed that the uptake of antenatal and delivery services from a skilled birth attendant is unacceptably low in rural Nepal, which is a challenge for meeting the millennium development goals. The study recommends programmes for improving economic status as a key to improving newborn care practices. As the vast majority of the deliveries are still assisted by traditional birth attendants; including them in maternal health programmes is crucial. Increasing women’s access to a skilled birth attendant and boosting the spirit of the FCHVs to increase their efficiency is also recommended. Future research on newborn health should focus on identifying other determinants of newborn care practices and survival. Qualitative studies to understand the cultural perspectives of newborn care practices are also recommended.

Introducción: La lactancia materna exclusiva (LME) ha probado ser altamente beneficiosa para la salud infantil. Conocer los factores asociados a su abandono es útil para identificar los grupos a los cuales enfocar las intervenciones. Objetivo: Evaluar los factores asociados al abandono de la LME antes de los seis meses en madres de lactantes, residentes en un distrito de Lima. Métodos: Estudio transversal analítico que evaluó, a través de una encuesta, a madres de lactantes entre 6-24 meses de un distrito periférico de Lima, Perú, 2013. Se preguntó por la edad en la que se suspendió la LME y se definió como abandono si esta fue previa a cumplir los seis meses de edad. Se evaluaron variables sociodemográficas, factores relacionados a la gestación y parto, así como factores propiamente relacionados a la lactancia. Se calcularon las razones de prevalencia crudas y ajustadas con sus respectivos intervalos de confianza al 95% (IC95%), a través de regresión de Poisson simple y múltiple, respectivamente. Resultados: De 109 madres incluidas en el análisis, 85,3% eran mayores de 18 años y todas presentaban un ingreso económico familiar menor a 250 dólares americanos. Aproximadamente, 70% abandonó la LME. Se encontró asociación con ser primípara (RP: 1,54; IC95%: 1,20-1,98), presentar problemas con el pezón (RP: 1,58; IC95%: 1,07-2,33) y que perciban que su hijo se encuentra insatisfecho con la LME (RP: 1,35; IC95%: 1,01-1,79). Conclusiones: La frecuencia de abandono de LME en la muestra evaluada fue alta. La primiparidad, los problemas con el pezón y el percibir que su hijo se encuentra insatisfecho con la LME fueron factores asociados. Las estrategias preventivas podrían dirigirse especialmente a mujeres con estas características. / Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) has proven to be highly beneficial for children’s health. Identifying the associated factors with its cessation is useful in order to target specific groups for preventive interventions. Objective: To evaluate the associated factors with EBF cessation before six months of age in women with infants, living in a district in Lima. Methods: A cross-sectional analytic study was performed. It evaluated mothers with infants aged 6-24 months, in a periurban district in Lima, Peru, 2013. The study outcome was cessation in EBF before six months of age. Sociodemographic variables, factors related to gestation and delivery, and factors properly related to breastfeeding were assessed. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios and their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated through simple and multiple Poisson regression. Results: From the 109 mothers included in the analysis, 85.3% were 18 years old or more and all of them had a monthly family income under 250 US dollars. Seventy percent of women interrupted EBF before six months of age. Statistically significant association was found between EBF cessation and being primiparous (PR: 1.54; 95%CI: 1.20-1.98), having problems with the nipples (PR: 1.58; 95%CI: 1.07-2.33) and the perception of infant’s persistent hunger with EBF (PR: 1.35; 95%CI: 1.01-1.79). Conclusion: EBF cessation frequency was high in the study sample. Primiparity, having problems with the nipples and the perception of infant’s persistent hunger with EBF were found as associated factors. Preventive strategies might specially focus in mothers with this characteristics.