ISSUES SURROUNDING THE PROMOTION OF COLOSTRUM FEEDING IN RURAL BANGLADESH

The present study examines colostrum feeding in rural Bangladesh using both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. Both the q uestionnaire survey results (N = 248) and follow up of (N = 43) mother s showed that colostrum rejection was far from universal. In fact, no infant was totally deprived of colostrum. Almost 30% of the infants we re put on the breast within 24 hours after delivery; about half of thi s group initiated breastfeeding within 12 hours after delivery. This s tudy shows that limited focus on colostrum feeding in the literature c oupled with inconsistencies in the definition of colostrum has led to misconception about colostrum rejection in Bangladesh. This paper sugg ests the nutritive and immunologic benefits of colostrum should be vie wed on a scale with maximum and minimum points. Depending on how soon the mother puts the infant on the breast after delivery, the extent to which it is deprived of colostrum can be assessed. Such an approach w ill help to distinguish between total and partial colostrum feeding. I n promoting colostrum use, it is important to know the mothers' percep tions of their state of well being, how colostrum is viewed and prevai ling practice with regard to feeding the newborn. Giving prelacteal fe eds to the newborn is universal in rural Bangladesh, as colostrum is n ot considered sufficient to meet the infant's food needs.