To identify the predictors of late initiation of breastfeeding practice in Ethiopia.

Cross-sectional study design.

Ethiopia.

A total of 1982 weighted samples of mothers with children aged under 24 months were included.

Late initiation of breastfeeding practice.

The prevalence of late breastfeeding initiation practice is 26.4% (95 CI 24.4 to 28.3). Being a young mother (15–24 years) (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) =1.66; 95 CI 1.06 to 2.62), no antenatal care (ANC) visit (AOR=1.45; 95 CI 1.04 to 2.02), caesarean section (AOR=4.79; 95 CI 3.19 to 7.21) and home delivery (AOR=1.53; 95 CI 1.14 to 2.06) were found to be the determinants of late initiation of breast feeding.

More than one-fourth of newborn children do not start breast feeding within the WHO-recommended time (first hour). Programmes should focus on promoting the health facility birth and increasing the ANC visits. Further emphasis should be placed on young mothers and those who deliver via caesarean section to improve the timely initiation of breast feeding.