1Department of Community Medicine, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubli, Karnataka, India
2Medical Student, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubli, Karnataka, India
*Corresponding author: Dr. Laxmikant Lokare, Associate Professor, Dept of community Medicine, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubli, Karnataka, India, Phone (or Mobile) No.: +91-9886104302, Email: drlaxmikant25@gmail.com
Online published on 26 April, 2016.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) Breastfeeding is the key to a child's survival, health, growth and development. A great asset in India is that an average Indian mother although poor in nutritional status, has a remarkable ability to breast feed her infant for prolonged periods. However, some inappropriate breast feeding practices do exist in India. The study was undertaken to explore breastfeeding practices in Rural, Urban and urban slum mothers
Qualitative Cross-sectional community based study of Mothers Attending Anganwadi/immunization centre from urban, rural and slum areas. Data was collected by Focused Group Discussion(FGD) regarding General knowledge on infant feeding and Breast feeding practices was discussed. Data was analyzed by Content Based analysis and Ethnography.
Exclusive breast feeding was practiced by all the mothers Mothers were able to explain its importance and health benefits to her baby and herself. Started soon after delivery and is delayed only when there was perceived lack of milk. Misconceptions reading the colostrum were made out which made mother to discard the colostrums. Majority of the mothers encouraged feeding their baby with colostrum, some had strong misconceptions deep rooted in their minds regarding colostrum.
There was no difference of opinion on practice of infant breast feeding as all mothers practiced exclusive breast feeding. Adherence to cultural and traditional practices which influence the child feeding was followed by mothers belonging to rural and slum areas.
Breast feeding, infant, colostrum, mothers
