Īvoidance of prelacteal feeding is one of the recommended practices to ensure optimal breastfeeding. It is most commonly practiced in Somali Regional State (72.5%) followed by Amhara Regional State (47.8%). This practice is slightly more common in rural areas (27.5%) than in urban areas (24.2%) in Ethiopia. The most recent Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey showed that nearly three children in every ten (27%) are given prelacteal feeds within the first three days of life. Therefore to achieve child death related millennium development goals (MDGs), optimal breastfeeding is key and easiest intervention. In Ethiopia 18% of infant deaths could be attributed to poor breastfeeding practices. It is estimated that optimal breastfeeding of children under two years of age has the potential to prevent 1.4 million deaths in children under five of age in the developing world annually. Optimal breastfeeding is associated with long term health and emotional benefits for the infant that reduces child morbidity and mortality .Suboptimal breastfeeding is responsible for 45% of neonatal infectious deaths, 30% of diarrheal deaths and 18% of acute respiratory deaths in children under 5 years. Evidences support that optimal breastfeeding practices rank among the most effective interventions to improve child health. Breastfeeding concern starts from the minute of birth. Īs global public health recommendations, international guidelines stress that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months, then frequent and on demand breastfeeding should continue to 24 months. It is also associated with infant illness. Practice of giving pre-lacteal feeds was found also a key determinant of early cessation of full breastfeeding.

Breast milk is uncontaminated food that protects infants from infection and has an effect on the long term consequences, especially during adulthood, to prevent obesity and cardiovascular diseases. It is a living fluid, containing all the necessary nutrients and hydration in the first six months of the child’s life. Therefore, strengthening infant feeding counseling about the risks associated with prelacteal feeding, promoting institutional delivery and timely initiation of breastfeeding are important measures for preventing prelacteal feeding in Raya Kobo district.īreast milk is the ideal food and superior to other forms of supplementary foods that an infant can receive. Home delivery, delayed commencement of breastfeeding after birth and lack of awareness about the risks associated with prelacteal feeding were predictors of prelacteal feeding. Prelacteal feeding was commonly practiced in Raya Kobo district. The major reasons stated for providing prelacteal feeding were to prevent “evil eye” and illness and to “clean infant’s stomach”. Late initiation of breastfeeding (after one hour of delivery) was also associated with prelacteal feeding practice (AOR: 2.70 95% CI: 1.78, 3.99). Mothers who were not aware of the risks associated with prelacteal feeding were nearly four times more likely to practice prelacteal feeding as compared to knowledgeable mothers (AOR: 3.70 95% CI: 2.44, 5.53). Those mothers who gave birth at home were seven times more likely to practice prelacteal feeding as compared to mothers who delivered at health institutions (Adjusted Odd Ratio (AOR):7.10 95% CI: 3.91, 12.98). Home delivery was a risk factor for practicing prelacteal feeding. Qualitative data was collected by focus group discussion and in-depth interview and analyzed using thematic frameworks. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 were identified as statistically significant factors. Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were employed to identify the factors associated with prelacteal feeding practices. Sixty hundred thirty (630) mothers of children aged less than 24 months were selected by systematic random sampling technique. MethodsĪ quantitative community-based cross-sectional study supplemented by qualitative methods was employed.

This study aimed to investigate prelacteal feeding practices and associated factors among mothers of children aged less than 24 months in Raya Kobo district, North Eastern Ethiopia.

Hence, it is vital to appreciate the cultural basis and potential factors on infant feeding practices in different parts of Ethiopia. The harmful infant feeding practices of prelacteal feeding is widely practiced in Ethiopia.

Kobo ethiopia