Prelacteal feeding practice and its determinant factors among mothers having children less than 6 months of age in Bure district, Northwest Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to assess prelacteal feeding practice and its determinant factors among mothers having children less than 6 months of age in Bure district, Northwest Ethiopia. Community-based cross-sectional study design. Northern Ethiopia. The present study was conducted among 621 mothers who had children less than 6 months of age in Bure district, Northwest Ethiopia, from 1 March 2019 to 30 March 2019. Mothers prelacteal feeding practice, modelled using multivariable logistic regression. Determinant factors of prelacteal feeding practice. This study found that the prevalence of prelacteal feeding practice was 11.6% ((95% CI 9.0% to 14.2%)). Delayed initiation of breast feeding (adjusted OR, AOR=5.4, 95% CI 2.2 to 13.5), mothers who did not get counselling of breast feeding (AOR=2.9, 95% CI 1.2 to 7.2), home delivery (AOR=6.9, 95% CI 2.2 to 21.5), primiparous mothers (AOR=4.1, 95% CI 1.4 to 12.2), a newborn with history of neonatal illness (AOR=3.3, 95% CI 1.3 to 8.5) and lack of postnatal care visits (AOR=3.9, 95% CI 1.3 to 11.8) were determinant factors of prelacteal feeding practice. Delayed initiation of breast feeding, mothers who did not get counselling of breast feeding, home delivery, primiparous mothers, newborns with a history of neonatal illness and lack of postnatal care visits were determinant factors of prelacteal feeding practice. Therefore, healthcare workers should provide a home to home health education for mothers on the merits of early initiation of breast feeding, promote institutional delivery, enhance maternal health-seeking behaviour and encourage mothers to have postnatal care visits is recommended.