Association of age and colostrum discarding with breast-feeding practice in Ethiopia: systematic review and

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Sisay Mulugeta Alemu1, Yihun Mulugeta Alemu2, Tesfa Dejenie Habtewold3

  • 11Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Program,International Medical Corps,2314 Dolo Ado,Ethiopia.

Public Health Nutrition
|March 9, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Discarding colostrum significantly impacts timely initiation of breast-feeding (TIBF) and exclusive breast-feeding (EBF) in Ethiopia. Maternal age, however, showed no association with these crucial infant feeding practices.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Nutrition Science

Background:

  • Timely initiation of breast-feeding (TIBF) and exclusive breast-feeding (EBF) are critical for infant survival and development.
  • Understanding factors influencing these practices in Ethiopia is essential for targeted interventions.
  • Maternal age, infant age, and the practice of discarding colostrum are potential determinants of breastfeeding success.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal/caregiver's age, infant age (0-6 months), and discarding colostrum with TIBF and EBF in Ethiopia.
  • To provide evidence-based recommendations for improving breastfeeding practices in the Ethiopian context.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic search of multiple electronic databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, CINHAL, Web of Science, WHO Global Health Library) for observational studies from 2000 to January 2018.
  • Independent screening and data extraction by two reviewers, with quality assessment using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
  • Meta-analysis (weighted inverse-variance random-effects model), cumulative meta-analysis, and meta-regression analysis were performed.

Main Results:

  • Colostrum discarding was significantly associated with lower odds of TIBF (OR=0.38; 95% CI 0.21, 0.68).
  • Colostrum discarding (OR=0.53; 95% CI 0.36, 0.78) and infant age (OR=1.77; 95% CI 1.38, 2.27) were significantly associated with EBF.
  • Maternal/caregiver's age showed no significant association with either TIBF or EBF.

Conclusions:

  • Colostrum discarding is a significant barrier to both timely initiation and exclusive breastfeeding in Ethiopia.
  • Maternal age is not a significant factor influencing breastfeeding practices in this population.
  • Interventions should focus on educating mothers about the importance of colostrum and discouraging its discard to improve breastfeeding outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
Breast-feedingEthiopiaInfantMaternal ageMeta-analysisReview

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