Determinants of prelacteal feeding among children under two years old of head porters in Ghana.

Prelacteal feeding (PF) is considered a suboptimal breastfeeding practice and also a barrier to early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) and exclusive breastfeeding (EB) practice. Little is known about the determinants of PF among head porters (HPs). Therefore, this study investigated the determinants of PF among HPs in Ghana.

The study was an observational cross-sectional study design undertaken in two commercial cities in Ghana, Kumasi and Accra, among 456 HPs who were also caregivers, using a multistage sampling method.PF was defined as the percentage of infants who received any liquid or powder substance other than breast milk within the first three days after birth. Logistic regression analysis with a p-value less than 5% and an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) witha 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to determine the significant factors associated with PF practice. About 13% of infants received a PF mainly as water (63.9%) and infant formula (36.5%). Children from nuclear (OR= 0.383, 95% CI= 0.159-0.918) and extended families (OR= 0.318, 95% CI=1.23-5.38) had a reduced risk of receiving PF.

Also, mode of delivery (OR= 4.319, 95% CI= 1.35-4.75), and ethnic groups Kusasi (OR= 10.841, 95% CI= 3.81-7.21) and Mamprusi (OR=6.159, 95% CI= 1.41-6.89) significantly predicted PF. It was concluded that the caregivers practiced PF, and the determinants were ethnic groups, type of family, and mode of delivery. Therefore, these predictors should be considered when developing strategies to address breastfeeding among these caregivers to achieve optimal breastfeeding