Breastfeeding Practices, Technique and Advantages: Knowledge among Female Medical Students of Ayurvedic College of Rural Setting in Haryana

Breast milk is an appropriate source of infant nutrition. It is the ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infant. It provides health, immunological, social, psychological and economic benefits to infants and their mothers. So promotion of breastfeeding is justified on firm scientific grounds. There has been a decline in the practice of breastfeeding. The training and sensitization of health care professionals play a vital role in the support and promotion of breastfeeding.

To assess knowledge about practices, techniques and advantages of breastfeeding among medical students.

Study design: cross-sectional, descriptive

Settings: MSM Ayurvedic College for Women Khanpur Kalan Sonepat

Study participants: 128 female Ayurvedic medical students

Study tool: pretested, self-administered questionnaire

Study analysis: percentages and proportions

Mean age of study participants was 20.42 ± 1.698. Breastfeeding should be started immediately after birth in case of normal delivery was answered by 58 (45.3%) study participants. Mother's first milk should be given just after birth was answered by 120 (93.8%) study participants while 8 (6.2%) students replied “Ghutti and others”. Knowledge regarding frequency of breastfeeding in 24 hours, only 14 (10.9%) medical students answered it “on demand”.22 (17.2%) medical students had correct knowledge about all signs of good attachment while 102 (79.6%) participants answered it partially correct.

The results highlight a need to reinforce the advantages and importance of breastfeeding to medical graduatesso that they can utilize this knowledge to promote and support breastfeeding in the community.