Exclusive Breastfeeding & Complementary Feeding Practices and Their Nutritional Knowledge Among Mothers at Chowhali Upazila in Sirajganj District, Bangladesh

Abstract

The study was conducted considering the exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding practices & their nutritional knowledge at Chowhali Char under Sirajganj area among 200 mothers in Bangladesh. There were 49% (n = 98) exclusive breastfeeding, early initiation 60% (n = 120) and 48% (n = 96) complementary feeding chosen for the study from Chowhali Char of the north Bengal using simple random sampling method. Results exposed to have 1500-5000 BDT family income & food expenditure 1200-3000 BDT per month; educational level was very low because there were no any secondary or higher secondary level, only 63% (n = 126) primary level. There were another feeding practice before exclusive breastfeeding i.e. 37.50% (n = 75) honey, 56.50% (n = 113) sugar & 6% (n = 12) others feeding so that child was not interest on exclusive breastfeeding; there were also exclusive breastfeeding duration was very low i.e. about 12.50% (n = 25) mother within 1-2 month, 81% (n = 162) 3-4 month & 6.50% (n = 13) mother 5-6 month. On the other hand, there were other feeding practices i.e. cow milk 44% (n = 88), formula milk 6% (n = 12) & 50% (n = 100) normal homemade food before six month. Their Nutritional knowledge were not good, only 19% (n = 38) known & 81% (n = 162) unknown mother about exclusive breastfeeding. Similarly 43.5% (n = 87) mother known about breast milk is easily digestible & 56.5% (n = 113) no knowledge; on the other hand, 87.5% (n = 175) mother known about breast milk is more nutritious than others food but 12.5% (n = 25) unknown. However, only 38 mother (19%) mother well known about balance diet but maximum mothers no knowledge i.e. 81% (n = 162); about 12.5% (n = 25) mother known on breast milk contains antibodies & 87.5% (n = 175) unknown; most of the mother there were no knowledge about breast milk which helps in physical & mental development i.e. 75% (n = 150) but only 25% (n = 50) mother knowledge it.