Abstract
Background : Breast feeding, the most natural way of infant feeding to satisfy nutritional, metabolic and psychological needs of the baby. Objectives : To assess the knowledge of breast feeding among primi- gravida mothers attending ante-natal clinic and to determine the association between socio-demographic variables with their knowledge. Materials and Methods : Hospital based cross sectional study was conducted at Ante-natal clinic of Krishna Hospital and Medical Research Center, Karad district Satara. Pre-tested structured proforma used to collect information from 590 married primi gravid mothers attending anti-natal clinic during study period by utilizing personal interview method. Statistical Analysis : socio-demographic frequency percentage distribution, knowledge scoreing and statistical association was analysed by using chi-square test. Results: Out of 590 primi gravida mothers,59.66% showed fair quality of knowledge about breast feeding. knowledge about rooming in, family support for breast feeding & burping after breast feeding was 97.7%, 95.4% , 93.5% however weaning, colostrums feed, hazards of bottle feeding and prelactal food was 84%, 82.7%,75.5% and 54% respectively. Statistical association was existed between age, education, religion, socio-economic status & occupation of respondents with their knowledge about breast feeding (?2=151.52, p < 0.0001*; ?2=211.27,p<0.0001*; ?2=133.91,p < 0.0001*; ?2=35.59,p < 0.0001* and ?2=131.04,p<0.0001*) respectively. Conclusion: knowledge of breast feeding among primi gravida mothers attending ANC clinic was of fair in quality. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v11i4.12603 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 11 No. 04 Oct12
Highlights
Breast feeding is the most natural way of infant feeding to satisfy nutritional, metabolic and psychological needs of the baby
Breast feeding significantly reduces the risk of death especially from diarrhea and pneumonia in infants compared to formula fed babies
Breast feeding has shown to ensure quality survival, the risk of adult onset of disease like diabetes, allergic disorders like asthma, CAD, hypertension, celiac diseases, lymphoma and cataract is substantially reduced in later life
Summary
Breast feeding is the most natural way of infant feeding to satisfy nutritional, metabolic and psychological needs of the baby. A child who is breast fed has greater chances of survival than a child artificially fed. Breast feeding significantly reduces the risk of death especially from diarrhea and pneumonia in infants compared to formula fed babies. It protects the infant from early malnutrition and some infections 2. Breast feeding has shown to ensure quality survival, the risk of adult onset of disease like diabetes, allergic disorders like asthma, CAD, hypertension, celiac diseases, lymphoma and cataract is substantially reduced in later life. Breast feeding has advantage to both the baby and the mother
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