Breast feeding and infant feeding practices among rural mothers in Goa

Abstract

Background: Breast feeding in India is universal. Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood illnesses (IMNCI) strategy recommended systematic assessment of breastfeeding and emphasized counseling of mothers, but the initiation of breast feeding is late and the colostrum is discarded. The aim of the study was to study infant feeding practices among rural Goan mothers, the various socio demographic factors influencing these feeding practices and study the practices among rural mothers towards health care of their children. Methods: A cross sectional study was done among 307 rural mothers with children < 2 years in the rural community under rural Health Training Centre Mandur which is located 16 kilometres from the capital city of Panaji, by doing a house to house oral interview. Analysis of collected data was done using SPSS and Chi-square test was applied in addition to proportions and percentages. Results: Around 46.25% of the mothers fed colostrum to their newborns and 73.62 % of the mothers’ breastfed within 24 hours of birth. 37.59% of the mothers practiced exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months. The association between literacy and prolonged duration of breastfeeding was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). Cereal based diet was the commonest complementary feeding administered by 23% of the mothers. Conclusions: The overall awareness about infant feeding practices such as early initiation of breastfeeding and feeding of colostrum among mothers was low despite the study area having quality antenatal and neonatal services.