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Newborn first feed and prelacteal feeds in Mansoura, Egypt
Abdel-Hady El-Gilany1, Doaa M Abdel-Hady1
1Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt.
Insights
Prelacteal feeding, giving newborns substances before breastfeeding, is common. Tradition and family advice are key reasons, impacting exclusive breastfeeding success.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal nutrition
- Public health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Prelacteal feeding (PLF) is prevalent despite known harmful effects.
- PLF compromises exclusive breastfeeding and early initiation.
- Understanding PLF is crucial for infant health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of prelacteal feeding.
- To identify the types of prelacteal feeds used.
- To explore reasons for and factors associated with PLF.
Main Methods:
- A study of 647 mother-infant dyads.
- Data collection on sociodemographics, maternity care, and first feeds.
- Maternal anthropometrics (BMI) were assessed.
Main Results:
- 58% of newborns received prelacteal feeds, most commonly sugar/glucose water.
- Tradition (61.0%) and family advice (58.3%) were primary reasons for PLF.
- Urban residence, maternal/paternal education, social class, maternal obesity, antenatal care type, C-section, female sex, low birth weight, and NICU admission predicted PLF.
Conclusions:
- Discourage indiscriminate prelacteal feeding.
- Integrate PLF education into medical and antenatal maternal health programs.
Background:
Prelacteal feed (feeding any other substance before first breastfeeding) appears to be common despite its harmful effects. By definition a child provided with prelacteal feed (PLF) is not exclusively breastfed and PLF has many implications for the success and early initiation of breastfeeding. Objectives. To describe the prevalence of, nature of, and reasons for and factors associated with PLF.
Methods:
647 mother-infant dyads were studied. Data was collected about the sociodemographic features of the family and baby, maternity care, the type of first feed before suckling, and causes of PLF. Maternal weight and height were measured and body mass index was calculated.
Results:
About 58% of newborns received prelacteal feeds. The commonest PLF was sugar/glucose water (39.6%). The most frequent reasons for giving PLF are tradition (61.0%) and mother's/mother in law's advice (58.3%). The logistic regression revealed that the independent predictors of PLF are urban residence; maternal education; father's education; low, middle, and high social class; maternal obesity; receiving antenatal care at private clinics and no antenatal care; Caesarean section; female babies; low birth weight; and admission to neonatal intensive care.
Conclusion:
Indiscriminate use of PLF should be discouraged in medical education and in antenatal maternal health education.
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