A study on breast feeding practices in rural and Urban Warangal, Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Breast feeding is one of the most important determinants of child survival, birth spacing and prevention of childhood infections. Breast milk is an excellent food and meets all nutritional requirements of the baby for the first six months. The objective was to determine the breast feeding practices in Urban and Rural areas of Warangal. A cross-sectional study was conducted wherein the mothers of infants in the age group of 0-12 months attending the immunization session at rural and urban health centre were interviewed using a pre-designed pretested and pre coded proforma. Exclusive breast feeding for 6 months in infants above 6 months of age is better in rural area (60.6%) than in urban area (47.6%). Association between exclusive breast feeding and literacy status of mothers was found to be significant in both urban (p=0.02) and rural areas (p = 0.000). Pre lacteal feeding is observed more in the urban area (51.7%) than in the rural area (48.6%). Information, Education and Communication activities are required to avoid pre lacteal feeding, to improve early initiation of breast feeding and to improve exclusive breast feeding for 6 months.