1Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, SSIMS&RC, Davangere, Karnataka
2Assistant Professor (Biostatistics), Department of Community Medicine, SSIMS&RC, Davangere, Karnataka
3Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, VMKV Medical College, Salem, Tamil Nadu
4Assistant Professor, Community Medicine, BMCRI, Bangalore, Karnataka
5Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, MVJ Medical College, Bangalore
6Professor & Head, Department of Community Medicine, DRBRAMC, Bangalore, Karnataka
Online published on 11 November, 2013.
Despite significant reduction in under five mortality, neonatal mortality continues to be high in India. Among various reasons, newborn care practices are major contributors for such high rates.
a. To study the newborn care practices b. To study the factors influencing newborn care practices.
A community based, cross-sectional study was conducted in the slums of urban field practice area of Dr B R Ambedkar Medical College, Bangalore.
Totally 220 mothers were interviewed at their home within 15 days of the delivery, the results of the study showed that 92% were institutional deliveries remaining 8% were home deliveries. Many harmful practices were commonly noticed in home deliveries. Delayed initiation of breast feeding, discarding colostrum and giving prelacteal feeds were seen in both hospital and home deliveries. This study emphasizes on urgent need to re-orient health care providers, to educate mothers on clean delivery practices and early neonatal care.
Home Deliveries, Newborn Care, Breast Feeding, Slums
