A Cross Sectional Study on Breast Feeding Practices among Infants Aged Upto 6 Months in Rural Population of Jaipur, Rajasthan

Abstract

Background & Objectives: As a global public health recommendation, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. WHO recommends early initiation of breastfeeding (i.e. within one hour of giving birth). Early breastfeeding within 1 hour and exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months are the key interventions to achieve reduction in child malnutrition and mortality. The present study was hence conducted to study the prevalence of Breastfeeding practices including time of initiation, giving colostrums, pre lacteal feeds and Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) among infants (up to 6 months of age) in rural population. Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in rural areas of Achrol village, Jaipur during June 2014 to October 2014. 340 infants were selected for interview but mothers of only 246 infants gave the consent. The study was carried out from door-to-door basis, using semi structured, pre-defined and pre tested questionnaire after taking informed consent. Results: 246 infants upto 6 months were included in this study, among them early initiation of breast feeding (i.e. within 1 hour of birth) was seen in 32(13.0%) of infants. Pre lacteal feed was given in 92.7% of infants, who had received some kind of pre-lacteal feed other than colostrums against the concept of exclusive breast feeding and surprisingly Tea was the commonest (47.81%) followed by honey (26.32%). Colostrums was given in only 83(33.7%) infants. Defying the concept of EBF, majority of the infants i.e.222 (90.2%) were given some kind of top feed even during the first 6 months. Only 24(9.8%) were exclusively breast fed. Conclusion: Early initiation and exclusive breast feeding, giving colostrums and avoiding pre lacteal feeds is not practiced at a desired level; which we would like to promote through the institutions conducting deliveries, by proper counselling of mother during antenatal visits and by ed