1Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences, Ballari, Karnataka
2Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences, Ballari, Karnataka
*Corresponding author: Dr. Bellara Raghavendra, Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences, Ballari, Karnataka. Email ID: bellararaghu@gmail.com Mobile #: +91 9901301830
Online published on 11 April, 2017.
Adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood is fundamental to the development of each child's full human potential. Breastfeeding provides the perfect nutrition for infants and lays the foundation for their healthy psychosocial development.
To study the breast feeding practices in the rural area.
A cross-sectional study design was done under the rural setting of Kudithini PHC, Bellary taluka. Considering the exclusive breast feeding rate of 44%(according to NFHS 3) the sample size was calculated to be 143. and a total of 150 mothers were included in the study. There are six subcentres under Kudithini PHC and within each subcentre a sample of 25 mothers were selected randomly using the registry available with the ANM. Data was collected by interviewing the mothers on a pre-designed, semi structured proforma with specific questionnaires on breast feeding practices.
Mean age of the mothers was 24.5± 8.02 years, mean age of the children was 9.22±2.2 months. Optimal breast feeding practices were assessed where in 58.7% of them initiated breast feeding early, prelacteal feeding was not given in 64.7%, colostrum feeding was done in 62.7% and exclusive breast feeding for 6 months was practiced by 23.3%.
This study found that optimal breast feeding practices was low and prevalence of exclusive breast feeding was low. There is a need to educate the mothers during antenatal visits
Breast feeding practices, Community based cross-sectional study, Ballari
