Practices regarding colostrums and pre-lacteals among gadaba and konda dora tribes of vizianagaram district

Abstract

––Feeding of breast milk is the first fundamental right of the child. Some believe pre-lacteals are a necessary substitute for colostrums. The practice of giving pre-lacteal feed to baby is a traditionally accepted culture in India. A cross-sectional study was conducted on Gadaba and Konda Dora tribal populations at random from 95 tribal villages in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. Data were collected from 300 lactating women from each tribe, age ranges between 15-45 years through in-depth interview method. The practice of discarding of colostrums (the first breast milk) is still exists among Gadaba (25.7%) than Konda Dora (20.0%). Because of the late initiation of the breast milk, the newborns were fed with pre-lacteal foods (27.3% of Gadaba and 22.7% of Konda Dora newborns). They are feeding the newborns with pre-lacteals in a most unhygienic method i.e. by using either finger or spoon or cotton. The deep-rooted traditional beliefs and misconceptions are observed in discarding of colostrums and introducing the pre-lacteals to their babies. Proper knowledge should be given to the mothers regarding the importance of colostrums and effects of pre-lacteal feedings.