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

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. Conclusion: Promoting institutional delivery, timely initiation of breastfeeding and creating awareness on the advantages of colostrum feeding are recommended interventions to reduce colostrum avoidance.