Knowledge and Practice about Pre-lacteal Feeding and Weaning of Mother’s in a Slum Area in Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Background: A pre-lacteal feed is any food other than mother's milk provided to a new-born before breastfeeding begins. It has an effect on the timing of initiation and exclusive activities. Pre-lacteal feeding decreases immunological benefits derived from colostrum while also increasing risk infection. dangerous infant technique that commonly used in developing world, including Bangladesh. The present study might help us become well aware correct weaning practices by rural mothers, their beliefs customs thus may guide regarding ways improve nutritional status children as knowledge practice mothers. Materials Methods: This was cross-sectional type descriptive carried out with view assess about mothers living slums areas Rajshahi, Bangladesh, duration 8 months May, 2014 December, 2014. All slum Rajshahi constituted population, sample size 350 purposive sampling followed. partially structured questionnaire duly pre-tested collect data face interview. Results: In this most (57.7%) respondent had two children, (48.6%) mentioned honey food, (47.5%) respondents told given due tradition (49.7%) considered malnutrition not giving colostrum’s. Regarding time weaning, (55.7%) babies should be weaned at more 6 months, hotchpotch (khichuri) common consisting (40.0%). About 49.0% improper (67.6%) pre lacteal (37.8%) regarded (73.71%) knew known almost all (99.14%) respondents, baby majority (73.14%) (99.71%) babies. There relationship between occupation respondent's husband (p < 0.05). Conclusion: found prevalent Rajshahi. activity closely linked lower levels schooling, increased family size, failure attend ANC, refusal colostrum. As result, improving mothers' educational status, reducing encouraging ANC follow-up, are effective avoid prelacteal feeding.