Prelacteal Feeding Practice and Associated Factors among Mothers Attending Immunization Clinic in Harari Region Public Health Facilities, Eastern Ethiopia

Background: Breast feeding will have the intended outcome when it is initiated timely and exclusive for the first six months. Introducing prelacteal feeding and inadequate amount of breast milk contributes to over a million avoidable infant deaths each year in developing countries. The purpose of this study was to assess prelacteal feeding practice and associated factors among mothers attending immunization clinic in Harari region government health institutions. Methods: An institutional based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 634 mothers and infants dyads attending ten public health facilities. Systematic random sampling method was used to select the study participants. An exit interview using pretested structured questionnaire was conducted about their experience on prelacteal feeding and related experience. Logistic regressions with OR and 95% confidence interval were computed. Result: Two hundred seventy eight (45.4%) of mothers gave prelacteal liquids for their infants. The common pre-lacteal food includes sugar or glucose water 121 (43.5%) followed by milk other than breast milk 70 (25.1%). Home delivery, failure to attend ANC, late breastfeeding initiation and influence by friends were significantly associated with prelacteal feeding. Conclusion: The prevalence of prelacteal feeding was relatively high in the area. Failure to attend ANC, giving birth at home, late initiation of breast feeding and influence of friends and relatives to give prelacteal feeds for their new born infants were found to be positively associated with prelacteal feeding.

Pre-lacteal feeding practices among newborn in urban slums of Lucknow city UP, India

Aim: To study the Practices of Pre-lacteal feeding among Newborns in Urban slums of Lucknow city. Setting and Design: A cross-sectional study in Urban slums of Lucknow city, UP. Methods and Material: A cross-sectional study in Urban slums of Lucknow city, UP included 524 women who had a live birth during last one year preceding data collection. A pre-desined and pretested questionnaire was used for data collection. Statistical analysis used: The data was tabulated on Microsoft Excel sheet and analyzed using the software SPSS 10.0 for Windows and Discrete data were analyzed using the chisquare test. Results: Study findings showed that Half (50.6%) of the mothers had given pre-lacteal feedings to their newborn. Out of those who had given pre-lacteal feed, 55.1 percent had given mugli ghutti/griipe water and 49.4 percent had given boiled water as pre-lacteal feed Only mother’s education (p < 0.01), father’s education (p < 0.001) and socioeconomic status (p < 0.05) were statistically associated with the practice of giving prelecteal feeding. Conclusion: It was concluded that maternal knowledge and awareness of correct feeding practices is essential for the normal growth, health and well being of the children. We therefore suggested that the primary focus of various nutrition related national programs in India for children should aim at imparting nutrition and health education to the mothers.