Assessment of breast feeding practices and its contributing factors in slums of Amritsar city (Punjab), India

Abstract

Introduction: Feeding practices in a community directly affect the nutritional status of infants. The current study was conducted with the objective of assessing the breast feeding practices and factors contributing to it in slums of Amritsar city.Materials and Method: It was a cross-sectional study conducted in a slum of Amritsar city. Mothers who have delivered within the past one year were taken as study subjects. Sample size of 235 was calculated. Mothers were interviewed by using predesigned, pretested proforma. Breast feeding practices were studied. Sociodemographic factors were studied in relation to breast feeding practices. The data was collected, compiled and analyzed by using SPSS evaluation version 19.0. Results: It was observed that 90.6% infants were put to the breast milk after birth. But inappropriate early neonatal feeding practices were common. Prelacteal feed in the form of honey, sugar water or saline water was given to 86% of infants. Colostrum was discarded by 45.7% of women. Only 17% of women started breast feeding within one hour and 62.5% infants were put on exclusive breast feeding. Place of delivery was found to be a significant factor affecting exclusive breast feeding practice. Conclusion: Though majority of infants were put on breast milk, inappropriate feeding practices are prevalent. As place of delivery affects the breast feeding practice, institutional deliveries should be promoted.