Pre Lacteal Feeding Practices and Their Determinants in India A Systematic Review

Pre lacteal feeds are a major contributor to suboptimal breastfeeding practices which include delay in initiation of breastfeeding and prevention of the initial bonding between the mother and the baby. Infants who receive pre lacteal feeding are more likely to be malnourished. The study aims to the different pre lacteal feeding practices in India and their determinants. Online search of published articles were done on Academic Search Complete, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL), Global Health, MEDLINE, Scopus and Google scholar. A total of nineteen studies meeting the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Duration of studies varied for up-to 7 days and the most common pre lacteal food fed was honey. The most common reasons for administration were cultural reasons, health conditions of the mother and myths and misconceptions associated with the ritual. The determinants of pre lacteal feeding practices were socio demographic factors, health related factors and individual factors. The universal practice of pre lacteal feeding in India is associated with culture and customs. Initiative directed at clearing myth and misconception associated with the ritual is required to bring about a change in the practice and subsequently nutritional status of children.