Colostrum avoidance, prelacteal feeding and late breast-feeding initiation in rural Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

Objective: To identify specific cultural and behavioural factors that might be influenced to increase colostrum feeding in a rural village in Northern Ethiopia to improve infant health. Design: Background interviews were conducted with six community health workers and two traditional birth attendants. A semi-structured tape-recorded interview was conducted with twenty mothers, most with children under the age of 5 years. Variables were: parental age and education; mother's ethnicity; number of live births and children's age; breast-feeding from birth through to weaning; availability and use of formula; and descriptions of colostrum v. other stages of breast milk. Participant interviews were conducted in Amharic and translated into English. Setting: Kossoye, a rural Amhara village with high prevalence rates of stunting: inappropriate neonatal feeding is thought to be a factor. Subjects: Women (20-60 years of age) reporting at least one live birth (range: 1-8, mean: ,4). Results: Colostrum (inger) and breast milk (yetut wotet) were seen as different substances. Colostrum was said to cause abdominal problems, but discarding a portion was sufficient to mitigate this effect. Almost all (nineteen of twenty) women breast-fed and twelve (63 %) reported ritual prelacteal feeding. A majority (fifteen of nineteen, 79 %) reported discarding colostrum and breast-feeding within 24 h of birth. Prelacteal feeding emerged as an additional factor to be targeted through educational intervention. Conclusions: To maximize neonatal health and growth, we recommend culturally tailored education delivered by community health advocates and traditional health practitioners that promotes immediate colostrum feeding and discourages prelacteal feeding.

Neonatal Home Care Practices and Care Seeking Behaviour in Rural Makwanpur of Nepal

“…1 Early initiation of breastfeeding is considered an important factor for preventing hypothermia and promoting colostrum feeding. 15,16 Sixty four percent of study-area mothers initiated breastfeeding within the first hour, almost the same reported earlier (63%) by another study done in Makwanpur. 8 Discarding the colostrum, the first milk expressed from the breast, is highly discouraged due to its immunologically protective properties for newborns.…”

“…5 Prelacteal feeding causes increased risk of illness and interferes with the establishment of breastfeeding. 15 It was significantly lower in study areas (14%) than the national average (37%). 1 Early initiation of breastfeeding is considered an important factor for preventing hypothermia and promoting colostrum feeding.…”

Prevalence and determinants of pre-lacteal feeding in South Sudan: a community-based survey

“…The high rate of PLF may reduce suckling and production of breastmilk leading to a decrease in EBF [41]. In addition, discarding of colostrum might deny the infant the health benefits leading to an increase in infections and subsequent death.…”

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Post Natal Mothers towards Colostrum Breast Milk in Debre Markos Town Governmental Health Institutions East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

“…Structured interviewer administered questionnaires adapted and modified from previous studies. 6,8 It was prepared in English language and translated in to the local language Amharic. And then, it was translated back into English for its consistency.…”

“…A majority (fifteen of nineteen, 79%) reported discarding colostrum and breast-feeding within 24 hour of birth. 6 Attention to feeding practices is important because inadequate knowledge about appropriate foods and feeding practices is more often a cause of malnutrition than lack of food. 5 Malnutrition has been responsible, directly or indirectly, for 60% of the 10.9 million deaths annually among children under five.…”