Natnael Dechasa, Wondu Feyisa, Fentahun Alemnew, Asteray Asme and Amanuel Tebabal
Introduction: Pre lacteal feeds are foods and/or drinks other than human milk, given to newborn babies before breastfeeding initiation. It is a common neonatal feeding problem in developing country like Ethiopia, where infant and child mortality rate is quite high.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the proportion and factors associated with pre lacteal feeding among mothers who attended the child immunization clinic in the public health facilities of Dire Dawa city, Eastern Ethiopia.
Method: Health facility based cross-sectional study was employed from February 1–30/2021 in the public health facilities of Dire Dawa city among 308 mothers-child pairs. The data were collected by systematic random sampling technique, then entered into Epi data 4.2 and analysed using statistical package for social science 25.0 version. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses was employed to estimate the crude odds and adjusted odds ration with a CI of 95% and a P value of < 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Result: In this study, the proportion of pre lacteal feeding was 15.7%, [95% CI: 11.8- 19.6%]. Mothers age 15-24 years [AOR=3.39, 95% CI= 1.21-9.51], having no history of antenatal visit [AOR=4.71, 95% CI=1.32-16.81], home delivery [AOR=3.50, 95% CI=1.12- 10.97], caesarean section delivery [AOR=4.23, 95% CI=1.27-14.13], not counselled on exclusive breastfeeding [4.10, 95% CI=1.03-16.27], delayed initiation of breastfeeding [AOR=3.08, 95% CI=1.01-9.48], poor practice of colostrum feeding [AOR=3.80, 95% CI=1.20-12.04], and poor knowledge of colostrum and breastfeeding [AOR=4.31, 95% CI=1.54-12.10] were associated with pre lacteal feeding.
Conclusion: In the present study, mothers who had practiced pre lacteal feeding was high compared to the 2016 Ethiopian demographic health survey report. Sociodemographic, reproductive, knowledge and practice related factors were predictors of pre lacteal feeding. Therefore, there is a need of educating and counselling the mothers on the danger of pre lacteal feeding.
