1Professor and HOD, Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences and Research, Greater Noida
2Associate Professor, Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences and Research, Greater Noida
3Professor, Community Medicine, Santosh Medical College, Ghaziabad
4NDMC Dispensary, Delhi
5Professor, Community Medicine Department, School of Medical Sciences and Research, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
*Corresponding author: Deepika Agrawal, 1618, Milano Tower, Mahagun Mascot, Crossings Republik, Ghaziabad. Phone No.: 9910316193. E-Mail: deepikasudhanshu@gmail.com
Online published on 27 May, 2015.
The importance of breast feeding has been immortalized in the ancient Indian Literature. According to an analysis, breast feeding was identified as the single most effective preventive intervention which could prevent 13–16% of all childhood deaths in India. According to WHO, exclusive breast feeding for first six months provides continuing protection against diarrhea and respiratory tract infection.
to find the proportion of mothers practicing exclusive breast feeding for 6 months, prevailing breast feeding practices and influence of socio-cultural factors on breast feeding practices.
Taking 51% as prevalence (NFHS 3), sample size was calculated as 400 with 10% relative precision. Cluster sampling technique was used in the study. 10 subjects each were interviewed from 14 urban and 26 rural clusters to cover a sample size of 400. Their responses were recorded on a pretested questionnaire and results drawn. Data were analysed using Epi-info and SPSS and chisquare test applied.
68.6% of mothers had started breast feeding within 4 hours of delivery (only 31.9% within the first hour). 30%of mothers had practiced exclusive breast feeding for atleast 6 months. 75% of mothers had fed colostrum to the babies and 48.2% had given prelacteal feeds. Breast feeding practices were significantly influenced by socio-economic status, literacy status, number of ANC visits and place of delivery.
Early initiation of and exclusive breast feeding is still low in the area with a large proportion of mothers giving prelacteal feeds.
Exclusive Breast Feeding, Colostrum, Prelacteal Feeds, Socio-Cultural Factors
