Pre-lacteal feeding practice and associated factors among mothers having children aged less than six months in Dilla town, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract Background Pre-lacteal feeding, the introduction of liquids or non-breast milk foods before establishing regular breastfeeding, poses significant risks to newborns, depriving them of vital nutrients and the protective benefits of colostrum while exposing them to infection hazards. Despite b...

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Main Authors: Anteneh Gashaw, Haymanot Mitku
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-03-01
Series:BMC Pediatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-04660-y
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author Anteneh Gashaw
Haymanot Mitku
author_facet Anteneh Gashaw
Haymanot Mitku
author_sort Anteneh Gashaw
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Pre-lacteal feeding, the introduction of liquids or non-breast milk foods before establishing regular breastfeeding, poses significant risks to newborns, depriving them of vital nutrients and the protective benefits of colostrum while exposing them to infection hazards. Despite breast milk being a renewable and comprehensive source of infant nutrition for the first six months of life, prevalent in many low income country are pre-lacteal feeds such as honey, sugar-water, jiggery water, castor oil, and goat’s milk. These practices, widespread in such regions, carry potential risks of infection and aspiration. The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of pre-lacteal feeding and identify associated factors among mothers with children under six months in Dilla Town, Southern Ethiopia. Method A community-based cross-sectional study took place in Dilla town, southern Ethiopia, spanning from June 20 to August 20, 2022. The study included a total of 372 participants, selected through simple random sampling for kebele and systematic random sampling for individual participants. Data was collected using interviewer-administered structured questionnaires and subsequently coded, entered, cleaned, and edited using SPSS version 23.0 software. The presentation of data utilized tables and figures, followed by a logistic regression analysis to identify potential factors associated with pre-lacteal feeding. The significance level was set at a p-value less than 0.05 for the final model. Result The prevalence of pre-lacteal feeding practice was 176 (47.3%) in the study area and having no maternal education (AOR = 3.68, 95% CI; [1.01–5.84] colostrum avoidance (AOR = 4.20, 95% CI; [2.03–6.86] and lack of breast feeding counseling (AOR = 2.00, 95% CI; 1.40–2.57), were factors associated with pre-lacteal feeding practices. Conclusion and recommendation Pre-lacteal feeding practice among mothers of children aged less than 6 months in Dilla town was found to be higher than the national prevalence. No formal education, colostrum avoidance, lack of breastfeeding counseling, were factors associated with pre-lacteal feeding practices. So awareness creation activities on the risks of PLF (pre-lacteal feeding) and improving breastfeeding counseling targeted to all mothers and care givers including their families within the study area is vital.
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spelling doaj.art-79a621762f634f4caf5a4282cf913dd72024-03-24T12:34:14ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312024-03-012411910.1186/s12887-024-04660-yPre-lacteal feeding practice and associated factors among mothers having children aged less than six months in Dilla town, Southern EthiopiaAnteneh Gashaw0Haymanot Mitku1Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Dilla UniversityDepartment of Midwifery, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Dilla UniversityAbstract Background Pre-lacteal feeding, the introduction of liquids or non-breast milk foods before establishing regular breastfeeding, poses significant risks to newborns, depriving them of vital nutrients and the protective benefits of colostrum while exposing them to infection hazards. Despite breast milk being a renewable and comprehensive source of infant nutrition for the first six months of life, prevalent in many low income country are pre-lacteal feeds such as honey, sugar-water, jiggery water, castor oil, and goat’s milk. These practices, widespread in such regions, carry potential risks of infection and aspiration. The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of pre-lacteal feeding and identify associated factors among mothers with children under six months in Dilla Town, Southern Ethiopia. Method A community-based cross-sectional study took place in Dilla town, southern Ethiopia, spanning from June 20 to August 20, 2022. The study included a total of 372 participants, selected through simple random sampling for kebele and systematic random sampling for individual participants. Data was collected using interviewer-administered structured questionnaires and subsequently coded, entered, cleaned, and edited using SPSS version 23.0 software. The presentation of data utilized tables and figures, followed by a logistic regression analysis to identify potential factors associated with pre-lacteal feeding. The significance level was set at a p-value less than 0.05 for the final model. Result The prevalence of pre-lacteal feeding practice was 176 (47.3%) in the study area and having no maternal education (AOR = 3.68, 95% CI; [1.01–5.84] colostrum avoidance (AOR = 4.20, 95% CI; [2.03–6.86] and lack of breast feeding counseling (AOR = 2.00, 95% CI; 1.40–2.57), were factors associated with pre-lacteal feeding practices. Conclusion and recommendation Pre-lacteal feeding practice among mothers of children aged less than 6 months in Dilla town was found to be higher than the national prevalence. No formal education, colostrum avoidance, lack of breastfeeding counseling, were factors associated with pre-lacteal feeding practices. So awareness creation activities on the risks of PLF (pre-lacteal feeding) and improving breastfeeding counseling targeted to all mothers and care givers including their families within the study area is vital.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-04660-yDilla townEthiopiaPre-lacteal feeding practice
spellingShingle Anteneh Gashaw
Haymanot Mitku
Pre-lacteal feeding practice and associated factors among mothers having children aged less than six months in Dilla town, Southern Ethiopia
BMC Pediatrics
Dilla town
Ethiopia
Pre-lacteal feeding practice
title Pre-lacteal feeding practice and associated factors among mothers having children aged less than six months in Dilla town, Southern Ethiopia
title_full Pre-lacteal feeding practice and associated factors among mothers having children aged less than six months in Dilla town, Southern Ethiopia
title_fullStr Pre-lacteal feeding practice and associated factors among mothers having children aged less than six months in Dilla town, Southern Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Pre-lacteal feeding practice and associated factors among mothers having children aged less than six months in Dilla town, Southern Ethiopia
title_short Pre-lacteal feeding practice and associated factors among mothers having children aged less than six months in Dilla town, Southern Ethiopia
title_sort pre lacteal feeding practice and associated factors among mothers having children aged less than six months in dilla town southern ethiopia
topic Dilla town
Ethiopia
Pre-lacteal feeding practice
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-04660-y
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