Early breastfeeding initiation (EBFI)

The objective of the paper was to describe the concept Early Breastfeeding Initiation (EBFI). Early breastfeeding initiation (EBFI) is recommended within the first hour following giving birth as a simple strategy in enhancing neonatal health and survival. Despite the clear definition by [WHO] on EBFI, some variations still exists across board on what exactly EBFI initiation is. The variations have compounded negatively on neonatal outcomes hence the need to describe EBFI by assigning measurable attributes for standardisation of operations in maternity units. A literature review of 39 articles was conducted between the years 1999 to 2016 in a period of two weeks from the 1st to the 15th of July 2016. The following search engines were used: Cochrane data base, Journal of human Lactation, Pub- med and MEDLINE. EBFI has been inconsistently described within the same health profession. Taking into cognisant the attributes of EBFI and applying them in the maternity units has a potential of averting neonatal deaths by a significant percentage. Key words: Early breastfeeding initiation.