Timely Initiation of Breastfeeding and Associated Factors in 20 Sub-Saharan African Countries: Cross-Sectional Multilevel Analysis of Recent Demographic and Health Surveys

Tadele Derbew Kassie   ^{1 *} , MPH ;   Getnet Gedif   ² , MPH ;   Mequanent Dessie Bitewa   ³ , MPH ;   Atsede Alle Ewunetie   ³ , MPH ;   Tewodros Shibabaw   ⁴ , MD ;   Menberu Gete   ⁵ , MSc ;   Melkamu Siferih   ⁶ , MD ;   Mikias Getahun Molla   ^{7 *} , MPH ;   Tirusew Wondie Wodie   ⁶ , MSc ;   Daniel Mulat Eshetu   ^{7 *} , MPH ;   Abebaw Abeje Muluneh   ⁸ , MSc ;   Aysheshim Asnake Abneh   ³ , MPH

¹ Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

² Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia

³ Public Health Department, College of Medicine and Health Science, Debre Markos University, Amhara, Ethiopia

⁴ School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia

⁵ College of Medicine and Health Science, Debre Markos University, Amhara, Ethiopia

⁶ Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Amhara, Ethiopia

⁷ Injibara University, Injibara, Amhara, Ethiopia

⁸ Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Science, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia

*these authors contributed equally