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.
Prelacteal feeding is giving liquids or foods other than breast milk prior to the establishment of regular breastfeeding. It deprives the child valuable nutrients, protects colostrum and exposes the newborn to the risk of infection [
A lack of exclusive breastfeeding contributes to over a million avoidable child deaths each year. Globally, less than 40% of infants less than six months of age are exclusively breastfed [
Although breast-feeding is almost universal across Ethiopian ethnic groups and geographical areas, it does not always meet WHO/UNICEF recommendations [
Study area and period: The study was conducted in February 2013 in public health facilities located in Harari region, Eastern Ethiopia. Harari is one of the nine regional states of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE). Harar, capital city of the region, is about 526 km east from the capital city Addis Ababa. The region has 10 public health facilities, of which six are located in Harar. This study was conducted in two hospitals (regional and referral) and eight health centers.
Study design, population and sampling: Institution based cross sectional study was conducted among mothers visiting immunization clinic. The sample size was calculated using single population proportion formula: the proportion of mothers who practice prelacteal feeding was assumed to be 50% [
The sampling unit was taken from each of the 10 public health institutions based on their predetermined client flow rate. To allocate the study subjects, first the average numbers of clients who visit the immunization department daily was estimated by referring client registration book/record for two month prior to data collection. Proportional allocation was made based on the possible number of patients that would be expected during the study period. Systematic random sampling was employed to identify study participants. Sampling interval was determined by dividing the expected patient with in the study period by allocated sample size to each facility.
Data collection: Data were collected by client exit interview from mothers of infants who attended immunization clinics using a structured questionnaire. Structured questionnaire, which was originally prepared in English, translated to two local languages called Amharic and Afan Oromo. Ten 3rd year college nursing students recruited to collect data during working hours of the health institutions for the whole data collection period. Supervisors’ were public health officers.
Data quality control: Structured questionnaire was translated from English to local languages and responses were translated back to English. A pretest was conducted in 32 (5%) mothers, to assess the content and approach of the questionnaire. Three supervisors were recruited, and training was given to data collectors and supervisors for two days on the objective, relevance of the study, confidentiality of information, respondent’s right, importance of pre-test, informed consent and techniques of interview.
Data analysis, presentation and interpretation: Data were first checked manually for completeness, coded, entered, and cleaned using Epidata version 3.11 and exported to SPSS version 16.0. Descriptive analysis was used to describe the percentages and number distributions of the respondents by socio-demographic characteristics. Variables which showed an association with dependent variable in the bivariate analyses at alpha = 0.05 were entered into multivariate logistic regression model. Adjusted Odds ratios (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were used to analyze and interpret study results.
Ethical considerations: The study was reviewed and approved by the Haramaya University Institution Research Ethics Review Committee. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant before the study.
From 634 participating mothers—infant dyads, 612 completed the study (96% response rate) and were included in the analysis. Three hundred twenty eight (53.6%) mothers were from rural areas and 453 (74.0%) were from Oromo ethnic group. Majority (98.5%) of the mothers were married, and 376 (61.4%) were housewives. Among the participants, 482 (78.8%) were Muslims, and 103 (16.8%) Orthodox Christians. Two hundred ninety two (47.7%) were illiterate while 77 (12.6%) mothers had education above 12 grade. Two hundred eighty seven (46.9%) of the mothers were found in the age range 15 - 25 years. Two hundred seventy eight (45.4%) of them had monthly income of less than 500 Birr (local currency). The mean age of infants was 4 months with (SD ± 3) months. Males accounted for 328 (53.6%).
Out of the total 612 respondents, 278 (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%) (
About 26% of mothers with infants didn’t receive ANC service at least once and 47% of them gave birth for their current child at home. Nearly half of the mother (46%) didn’t initiate breastfeeding immediately after delivery. Forty six percent of them were influenced to give pre-lacteal feeding to their new born.
In the bivariate analysis, residence, family size ,number of children, family monthly income, child age, birth order, mothers’ and fathers’ educational level, knowledge, ANC follow up, delivery type and place, breast feeding initiation time, and influence to give pre-lacteal feeding were significantly associated with prelacteal feeding (p < 0.05) (
In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, ANC follow up, place of delivery, breast feeding initiation time and influence to give prelacteal feeding were found to be associated with of prelacteal feeding. The odds of prelacteal feeding were 2.62 times higher for mothers who didn’t attend ANC follow up compared to their counterpart (AOR = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.47 - 4.6). The odds of prelacteal feeding were 3.42 times higher for infants delivered at home compared to infants delivered at the public health facility (AOR = 3.42, 95% CI: 2.0 - 5.87) (
. Types of prelacteal feeding among mothers with infants in Harari region public health facilities in Eastern Ethiopia, 2013
| Types of prelacteal feeds | N = 278 | % |
|---|---|---|
| Milk other than breast milk | 70 | 25.1% |
| Plain water | 63 | 22.7% |
| Sugar or glucose water | 121 | 43.5% |
| Sugar salt water solution | 4 | 1.4% |
| Fruit juice | 3 | 1.07% |
| Infant formula | 2 | 0.7% |
| Tea | 2 | 0.7% |
| Honey | 2 | 0.7% |
| Fresh butter | 10 | 3.59% |
| Others | 1 | 0.4% |
. Predictors of prelacteal feeding practice among mothers with infants in Harari region government health facility, Eastern Ethiopia, 2013
| Variables | Prelacteal feeding practice | COR (95% CI) | AOR and 95% CI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yes = 278 | No = 334 | ||||
| Residence | Urban | 82 (29.5%) | 202 (60.5%) | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Rural | 196 (70.5%) | 132 (39.5%) | 3.66 (2.61, 5.13) | 1.23 (0.71, 2.13) | |
| Family size | ≤3 | 60 (21.6%) | 99 (29.6%) | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| ≥4 | 218 (78.4%) | 235 (70.4%) | 1.53 (1.06, 2.22) | 1.99 (0.68, 5.88) | |
| No of children | ≤3 | 160 (57.6%) | 257 (76.9%) | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| ≥4 | 118 (42.4%) | 77 (23.1%) | 2.46 (1.74, 3.49) | 1.0 (0.56, 1.78) | |
| Monthly income | ≤500 | 177 (12.9%) | 101 (30.2%) | 5.02 (3.45, 7.29) | 1.87 (0.83, 3.38) |
| 501 - 999 | 36 (23.4%) | 47 (14.1%) | 2.19 (1.31, 3.68) | 0.92 (0.43, 1.96) | |
| ≥1000 | 65 (17.6%) | 186 (55.7%) | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| M/educational status | Illiterate | 186 (66.9%) | 106 (31.7%) | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Read & write | 23 (8.3%) | 59 (17.7%) | 0.22 (0.13, 0.38) | 0.37 (0.18, 0.76) | |
| Primary | 43 (15.5%) | 63 (18.9%) | 0.39 (0.25, 0.61) | 0.62 (0.31, 1.23) | |
| 9 - 12 | 13 (4.7%) | 42 (12.6%) | 0.18 (0.09, 0.34) | 0.71 (0.27, 1.90) | |
| >12 | 13 (4.7%) | 64 (19.2%) | 0.12 (0.06, 0.22) | 0.35 (0.12, 1.01) | |
| F/ education status | Illiterate | 139 (50.0%) | 59 (17.7%) | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Read & write | 41 (14.7%) | 48 (14.4%) | 0.36 (0.22, 0.61) | 0.62 (0.29, 1.35) | |
| Primary | 51 (18.3%) | 53 (15.9%) | 0.41 (0.25, 0.67) | 0.50 (0.23, 1.07) | |
| 9 - 12 | 25 (9.0%) | 65 (19.5%) | 0.16 (0.09, 0.28) | 0.64 (0.25, 1.61) | |
| >12 | 22 (7.9%) | 109 (32.6%) | 0.09 (0.05, 0.15) | 0.56 (0.16, 1.97) | |
| Birth order | 1 | 76 (27.3%) | 115 (34.4%) | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 2 - 3 | 97 (34.9%) | 145 (43.4%) | 1.01 (0.69, 1.49) | 1.46 (0.49, 4.35) | |
| 4 - 6 | 83 (29.9%) | 64 (19.2%) | 1.96 (1.3, 3.04) | 0.34 (0.07, 1.50) | |
| 7+ | 22 (7.9%) | 10 (3.0%) | 3.33 (1.49, 7.4) | 0.33 (0.06, 1.88) | |
| Knowledge | Poor knowledge | 71 (25.5%) | 24 (7.2%) | 4.43 (2.70, 7.27) | 1.69 (0.86, 3.34) |
| Good knowledge | 207 (74.5%) | 310 (92.8%) | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| ANC follow up | Yes | 126 (45.3%) | 268 (80.2%) | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| No | 152 (54.7%) | 66 (19.8%) | 6.7 (4.45, 10.28) | 2.62 (1.47, 4.6) | |
| Route of delivery | Vaginal | 257 (92.4%) | 289 (86.5%) | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Cesarean section | 21 (7.6%) | 45 (13.5%) | 0.53 (0.30, 0.91) | 0.77 (0.35, 1.72) | |
| Place of delivery | Home | 199 (71.6% | 87 (26.0%) | 7.15 (5.0, 10.22) | 3.423 (2.0, 5.87) |
| Health facility | 79 (28.4%) | 247 (74.0%) | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| Breast feeding time | Immediately | 67 (24.1%) | 253 (75.7%) | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Hours | 101 (36.3%) | 66 (19.8%) | 5.78 (3.83, 8.71) | 5.33 (3.18, 8.93) | |
| Days | 110 (39.6%) | 15 (4.5%) | 27.7 (15.15, 50.) | 33.2 (16.0, 68.58) | |
| Influence to give prelacteal feeding | yes | 164 (59.0%) | 122 (36.5%) | 2.50 (1.80, 3.47 | 2.87 (1.8, 4.58) |
| no | 114 (41.0%) | 212 (63.5%) | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
This study showed that the prevalence of pre-lacteal feeding was 45.4%. Failure to attend ANC, home delivery, late breast feeding initiation and others’ influence on mothers to give pre-lacteal feeds for their new born infants were found to be associated with pre-lacteal feeding.
In this study, we found that, 278 (45.4%) of the mothers gave pre-lacteal liquids to their infants. This result is similar with a study conducted in South Western Ethiopia in which 43.3% of the mothers provided pre-lacteal feedings to their infants [
In the present study, mothers who didn’t receive ANC service were 2.6 times more likely to give prelacteal liquid for their infants than mothers who received ANC at least once (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.47 - 4.68). These results are consistent with those reported from a study conducted in India [
Mothers who gave birth at home were 3.42 times more likely to practice prelacteal feeding than mothers who give birth at the public health facility (AOR = 3.42; 95% CI: 2.00 - 5.88). This odds ratio is similar with the ratio reported from studies conducted in Pakistan and Uganda [
Mothers with infants who are influenced to give prelacteal liquid for their newborn were 2.87 times more likely to practice giving prelacteal liquids for their infants compared to their counterparts (AOR = 2.87, 95% CI: 1.80 - 4.58). This is consistent with a study conducted in western Uganda and King Edward Medical University/ Mayo Hospital, Lahore [
This study showed that the prevalence of prelacteal feeding was high in the area. Fail to attend ANC, home delivery, late breastfeeding initiation and influence by friends and relatives were associated with prelacteal feeding. We recommend that health education should be provided on avoiding prelacteal feeding at the healthcare facilities and community levels. The focus should be aimed at mothers who are not attending ANC and do not have follow-up and institutional delivery services.
We thank all study participants and data collectors. We also like to thank Haramaya University for financial support of the study.
YB initiated the research, wrote the research proposal, conducted the research, did data entry and analysis and wrote the manuscript. BM involved in conceptualization of the research, statistical analysis and writing of the manuscript. FM assisted in the drafting of the manuscript and data tables. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.