title: Factors Associated with Colostrum Avoidance Among Mothers of Children Aged less than 24 Months in Raya Kobo district, North-eastern Ethiopia: Community-based Cross-sectional Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  UNICEF and WHO recommend colostrum as newborns' perfect food that should be initiated within the first hour after birth.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess colostrum avoidance practices and associated factors among mothers of children aged <24 months in Raya Kobo district, North-eastern Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quantitative community-based cross-sectional study supplemented by qualitative method was used. Descriptive statistics, binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used in the statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Colostrum avoidance was practiced by 13.5% (95% confidence interval: 10.99-16.33) of mothers having children aged <24 months. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, giving birth at home, mother-heading households, lack of awareness on the advantages of colostrum and late initiation of breastfeeding remained statistically significant factors associated with colostrum avoidance practices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Promoting institutional delivery, timely initiation of breastfeeding and creating awareness on the advantages of colostrum feeding are recommended interventions to reduce colostrum avoidance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Samara University, Ethiopia misganlegesselmisgan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Misgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Legesse
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, College of Health Science and Medicine, Haramaya University, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Melake
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demena
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, College of Health Science and Medicine, Haramaya University, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Firehiwot
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mesfin
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Madawalabu University, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Demewoz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Haile
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000208:ethnology / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D003126:Colostrum; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Ethiopia; Raya Kobo; colostrum