“Facilitators and barriers for exclusive breast feeding amongprimi mothers: Mixed methods approach”

The objective of the study was to assess the facilitators and barriers for exclusive breastfeeding among Primi Mothers at Selected Urban, Rural Communities. A survey and qualitative approach, a Mixed method research-concurrent triangulation design were used to collect the data among 90 mothers who were selected through consecutive sampling technique from rural (Naravarikuppam) and 90 mothers from urban (Ayyanambakkam, Thiruverkadu) communities. The demographic variables and obstetrical variables proforma, Modified Feed cat tool were used to collect the data. Based upon the assessment, the facilitator checklist was administered to mothers who practiced exclusively breastfeeding for complete six months and the barriers checklist was administered to mothers who did not practice exclusive breastfeeding for complete six months. In the qualitative study, data were collected from 6 participants who were selected through purposive sampling (who participated in the quantitative phase of the study).

The practice of exclusive breastfeeding among primi mothers in urban and rural communities depicted that more than half of the babies received exclusive breastfeeding in both urban (56%) and rural communities (68%). The overall practice of exclusive breastfeeding among primi mothers depicted that more than half of the babies (62%) received exclusive breastfeeding for six months. Qualitative research findings depicted that knowledge and awareness, promoting physiological behaviour, and support systems were seen as major facilitating factors for exclusive breastfeeding.

The study findings show that the majority of the mothers practiced exclusive breastfeeding for six months, which is the most encouraging fact to healthcare professionals and policymakers.