Evidence Based Care

Evidence Based Care

Factors associated with prelacteal feeding among mothers having baby less than 4 months of age in Pematangsiantar, Indonesia

Articles in Press

Document Type : Short Report

Authors
Inke Malahayati 1
Tengku Sri Wahyuni 1
Lenny Nainggolan 2
1 Department of Midwifery, Politeknik Kesehatan Kementerian Kesehatan Medan, Indonesia
2 Department of MIdwifery, Politeknik Kesehatan Kementerian Kesehatan Medan, Indonesia
10.22038/ebcj.2026.82096.3031
Abstract
Prelacteal feeding, the practice of giving substances other than breast milk to newborns within the first three days of life, poses significant risks to infant health, yet remains common in various regions, including Pematangsiantar, North Sumatra, Indonesia. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with prelacteal feeding practices in this region. A cross-sectional study was conducted in July 2024 among 62 mothers with infants under four months old. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed with SPSS software and the Chi-Square test and multivariate analysis. The prevalence of prelacteal feeding was 59.67%. In bivariate analysis, the factors associated with prelacteal feeding were lactation onset (p=0.001, OR 18.23, 95% CI: 2.23 - 149.84) and early breastfeeding initiation (p=0.024, OR 5.52, 95% CI: 1.11 - 23.35). After multivariate analysis, the factor associated with prelacteal feeding was lactation onset (p=0.01, AOR 0.02, 95% CI: 0.00 - 0.38). These findings highlight the need for enhanced breastfeeding counseling and community-based interventions to promote early initiation of breastfeeding and reduce prelacteal feeding practices.
Keywords
Early initiation of breastfeeding
Lactation onset
Pre lacteal feeding
Subjects
Evidence Based Care

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 02 September 2026