Breastfeeding during the first hour of life and neonatal mortality

Objective: To analyze the correlation between breastfeeding in the first hour of life with neonatal mortality rates. Methods: The present study used secondary data from 67 countries, obtained from the Demographic and Health Surveys. Initially, for data analysis, Spearman Correlation (95% CI) and Kernel graphical analysis were employed, followed by a Negative Binomial Poisson regression model, adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Breastfeeding within the first hour of life was negatively correlated with neonatal mortality (Spearman's Rho = −0.245, p = 0.046), and this correlation was stronger among countries with more than 29 neonatal deaths per 1000 newborns (Spearman's Rho = −0.327, p = 0.048). According to the statistical model, countries with the lowest breastfeeding tertiles had 24% higher neonatal mortality rates (Rate ratio = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.07-1.44, p < 0.05), even when adjusted for potential confounders. Conclusion: The protective effect of breastfeeding during the first hour of life on neonatal mortality in this ecological study is consistent with findings from previous observational