Prelacteal feeding is a major public health problem that increases the risk of morbidity and mortality in children. It also result delayed breastfeeding initiation and interferes with exclusive breastfeeding. Although numerous studies have been done on prelacteal feeding in individual East African countries, most of them did not consider community-level factors that could affect the likelihood of prelacteal feeding. This study, thus, aimed to assess the pooled prevalence and associated factors of prelacteal feeding practice in East Africa. We used pooled data from the 12 east Africa countries Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). A total weighted sample of 33,423 women was included in the final analysis. We employed multilevel logistic regression analysis to assess factors associated with prelacteal feeding practice. Finally, the Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% Confidence (CI) interval was reported and variables with p value< 0.05, in the multivariable analysis, were declared to be significant predictors of prelacteal feeding practice. In this study, the pooled prevalence of prelacteal feeding practice was 11.85% (95%CI: 11.50, 12.20) with great variation between countries, ranging from 3.08% (95%CI: 2.35, 3.81) in Malawi to 39.21% (95%CI: 36.36, 42.06) in Comoros. Both individual and community-level factors were associated with prelacteal feeding practice. Of the individual-level factors, home delivery, multiple birth, cesarean delivery, non-exposure to media, delayed initiation of breastfeeding, and being a small-sized baby were associated with higher odds of prelacteal feeding practice. Among the community-level factors, rural residence and higher community-level of media exposure were associated with lower odds of prelacteal feeding practice. In this study, the pooled prevalence of prelacteal feeding is high. Both individual and community level variables were associated with prelacteal feeding practice. Therefore, individual and community-level interventions that encourage mothers to deliver in the health facility and promoting timely initiation of breastfeeding are needed to reduce prelacteal feeding practices in east Africa. Moreover, media campaigns regarding this harmful traditional practice could be strengthened.

中文翻译：

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东非有 2 岁以下孩子的母亲的乳前喂养做法及其相关因素：对近期人口和健康调查的多层次分析

乳前喂养是一个主要的公共卫生问题，会增加儿童发病率和死亡率的风险。它还导致延迟开始母乳喂养并干扰纯母乳喂养。尽管对个别东非国家的乳前喂养进行了大量研究，但大多数研究并未考虑可能影响乳前喂养可能性的社区层面因素。因此，本研究旨在评估东非乳前喂养实践的汇总流行率和相关因素。我们使用了来自 12 个东非国家人口与健康调查 (DHS) 的汇总数据。最终分析包括了总共 33,423 名女性的加权样本。我们采用多级逻辑回归分析来评估与乳前喂养实践相关的因素。最后，报告了具有 95% 置信度 (CI) 区间的调整优势比 (AOR)，并且在多变量分析中，p 值 < 0.05 的变量被宣布为乳前喂养实践的重要预测因子。在这项研究中，乳前喂养实践的汇总流行率为 11.85% (95%CI: 11.50, 12.20)，各国差异很大，从马拉维的 3.08% (95%CI: 2.35, 3.81) 到 39.21% (95%) CI: 36.36, 42.06) 在科摩罗。个人和社区层面的因素都与乳前喂养实践有关。在个人层面的因素中，家庭分娩、多胞胎、剖宫产、不接触媒体、延迟开始母乳喂养以及婴儿体型较小与较高的乳前喂养做法相关。在社区层面的因素中，农村居民和较高的社区媒体曝光率与较低的乳前喂养做法有关。在这项研究中，乳前喂养的汇总流行率很高。个体和社区层面的变量都与乳前喂养实践相关。因此，需要鼓励母亲在卫生机构分娩并促进及时开始母乳喂养的个人和社区层面的干预措施，以减少东非的乳前喂养做法。此外，可以加强关于这种有害传统做法的媒体宣传。因此，需要在个人和社区层面采取干预措施，鼓励母亲在医疗机构分娩并促进及时开始母乳喂养，以减少东非的乳前喂养做法。此外，可以加强关于这种有害传统做法的媒体宣传。因此，需要在个人和社区层面采取干预措施，鼓励母亲在医疗机构分娩并促进及时开始母乳喂养，以减少东非的乳前喂养做法。此外，可以加强关于这种有害传统做法的媒体宣传。