Prelacteal feeding practices and associated factors among mothers of children aged less than 24 months in Raya Kobo district, North Eastern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Table 3 Prelacteal feeding practices of respondents who had ever breastfed their index child in Raya Kobo district, North Eastern Ethiopia, January 2014

Variable	Frequency (n)	Percent (%)
Prelacteal feeding practice for the index child (n = 623)
Yes	242	38.8
No	381	61.2
Prelacteal foods (n = 242)*
Sugar solution	92	38.0
Butter	78	32.2
Ersho^$	31	12.8
Honey	30	12.4
Plain water	9	3.7
Milk other than breast milk	2	0.8
Purported prelacteal feeding advantage (n = 242)^†
Do not know	177	73.1
Behavioral modification	28	11.6
For child health	24	9.9
For child growth	13	5.4
Knowing risks associated with prelacteal feeding (n = 623)*
Do not know	390	62.6
Diarrhea	213	34.2
Infection	26	4.2
Vomiting	10	1.6
Poor growth	10	1.6

*Variables that have multiple responses
^†There are no recognized benefits associated with prelacteal feeding. The medical community defines all prelacteal feeding as (potentially) dangerous [3],[4].
^$Ersho is a traditional baking soda prepared by incubating the flour and double distilled water.

ISSN: 1746-4358