A Comparative Study of Breast- Feeding Practices Among Kashmiri Pandits and Dogras

Abstract

Breast feeding is an extremely ancient process and is universally recommended way of providing infant nourishment. Mothers milk has been the mainstay of the infants diet in every culture or community from the very beginning of life on earth. Breast milk is important for healthy growth and development of all babies. It contains all the essential nutrients a healthy child needs. Several studies have demonstrated that the breast milk composition is unique and best suited for the growing infant. Feeding at breast is emotionally satisfying and a healthy practice for both the mother and the child besides it also helps to delay a new pregnancy. In the developed countries after a downward trend till 70s breast feeding has shown an upturn. Conversely in many developing countries situation is deteriorating there has been a tendency towards an early shift to bottle feeding. Hence it is necessary to keep this practice under continuous surveillance so that timely action could be taken at the earliest indication of decline. Though no milk can be a real substitute for mothers milk but sometimes it is needed to give artificial milk/ top feeding to the children due to various reasons. Present study was carried out with the aim of assessing the existing breast feeding practices in two communities of Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir). Objective of the Study: To know and compare the existing breast feeding practices among Kashmiri Pandits and Dogras. (excerpt)