Abstract:
Background:-Colostrum contains antibodies that prevent neonatal morbidity. However, many
Ethiopian mothers thought colostrum as a cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The
source of misconception about colostrum, underlying factor is not well researched and
understood.
Objective:-To assess prevalence of colostrum avoidance and associated factors among
mothers of children age less than six months, in Bure District, North West, Amhara Region,
Ethiopia, from March 1st up to 30th, 2019.
Method: - Community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 621 mothers of
children age less than six months. Cluster sampling technique was used in order to draw the
final sample size. Face to face interview was carried out using pretested questionnaire. Data
were entered in to Epi Data version 4.2.0 statistical software and then exported to SPSS
window version 23 statistical packages for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was
done by using binary logistic regression. Statistical significance was declared at P< 0.05.
Results: In this study colostrum avoidance was 14.5 % (90) (95% CI: 11.8-17.3). Maternal
age between (30-38) (AOR=0.182,95% CI: 0.046-0.713), higher number of ANC visit
(AOR= 0.112,95%CI:0.021-0.602), home delivery (AOR=4.350,95% CI: 1.248-15.167),
cesarean delivery (AOR=3.751, 95% CI: 1.444-9.744), not participated in a women pregnant
forum (AOR= 2.393,95% CI: 1.089-5.255), poor knowledge (AOR=2.653,95% CI: 1.167-
6.030) and poor attitude towards colostrum (AOR=2.977,95% CI: 1.130-7.838) of mother
were independently associated with colostrum avoidance.
Conclusions and recommendations: This study indicated that colostrum avoidance practice
was high. Therefore, health professionals and health extension workers in the district health
office should create awareness on the disadvantage of colostrum avoidance practice by
designing appropriate strategies like health education both at facility and community level.
