The hidden feed: Assessing prelacteal feeding practices among mothers of low birth weight neonates in a block of Western Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Prelacteal feeding (PLF), a prevalent practice in India, exposes infants to risk for health issues and delays the beginning of breastfeeding. Infants who have low birth weight (LBW) are susceptible to its adverse effects. Current research attempts have been in assessing cases of PLF in LBW infants and their association with sociodemographic characteristics. A facility-based cross-sectional study was carried out between March and August 2024 at a Community Health Centre located in Agra district. Consecutive sampling was used for recruiting 80 mothers with LBW infants. A pretested, semistructured questionnaire had been employed for collecting data, and Jamovi software had been employed for analysis. Chi-square test was employed for evaluating the association between PLF and independent factors. Among the 80 participants, 67.5% ( n = 54) reported administering prelacteal feed. Liquids were the most common type (72.2%), followed by solids (13%) and a combination of both (14.8%). PLF was significantly associated with maternal education ( P = 0.039) and family type ( P = 0.004). The high frequency of PLF among LBW infants highlights the need for culturally appropriate counseling and health education, particularly for less-educated women and families living in joint or extended household settings, to promote and support exclusive breastfeeding.