TITLE:
Prelacteal Feeding Practice and Associated Factors among Mothers Attending Immunization Clinic in Harari Region Public Health Facilities, Eastern Ethiopia
AUTHORS:
Yoseph Bekele, Bezatu Mengistie, Frehiwote Mesfine
KEYWORDS:
Prelacteal Feeding, Infant, Exclusive Breastfeeding, Mothers
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Preventive Medicine,
Vol.4 No.7,
July
21,
2014
ABSTRACT: 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.