BREAST FEEDING OUTCOME

EFFECT OF PRELACTEAL FEEDING: A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of prelacteal feeding among mothers of
Pakistan and to find out the various concepts behind this practice and fundamentally to establish
the association of prelacteal feeding with breastfeeding outcomes. Background: In Pakistan,
many efforts have been done to emphasize the nutritional importance and adequacy of breast
milk for the newborns. Despite such efforts, it has been witnessed on multiple occasions that
prior to the commencement of breastfeeding, prelacteal feeds are introduced by the mothers to
their young ones. Prelacteal feed (PLF) are food supplements that are given to newborns orally.
Design: Qualitative, descriptive, cross sectional Survey. Setting: The Lady Dufferin Hospital
(LDH) and Jinnah Medical College hospital (JMCH). Methods: Study includes 400 Mothers
including young mothers and data was collected with use of a pre-assessed authenticated
questionnaire. Results: A large group of, both educated and uneducated, mothers knew about
PLF administration (90.5%). Out of these, 70% mothers routinely give prelacteal feeds, with
readymade ghutti and honey being the most widely used supplements, 19.5% and 37.2%
respectively .However their reasons for doing so differed significantly. Family tradition (27.8%)
and religious credence (21.8%) are the most popular reasons for practicing prelacteal feeding.
The other minor reasons are breast milk insufficiency, prevention of dehydration, hypoglycaemia,
preparation of the gastrointestinal tract for digestion and to quench thirst. However, majority
of the subjects were aware of the benefits of breastfeeding and 99% mothers breastfed their
children. Conclusions: Regardless of the fact that mothers understand the significance of
breast milk, most mothers routinely and unnecessarily give prelacteal feeds. Therefore, mothers
should be discouraged for the unsafely administration of prelacteal feeds and re-emphasized
about the importance and nutritional adequecy of breastfeeding.