Maternal practices of baby feeding and hygiene in the city of Ludhiana, Punjab, India.

Abstract

66 mothers with children aged between 12-24 months were interviewed with a questionnaire in the industrial city of Lubhiana. The average age of the mothers ranged from 18-45 years. 66% were between 21-30; 39% had only 1 living child. 41% of the children were well nourished; were third degree malnourished. 91% were breast fed from birth. 30% mothers gave milk top feeds from birth; the additional milk was fresh buffalo (84%). The milk was boiled in 100% of cases and the water diluting the feeds was boiled in 46% cases. The water was added before the milk was boiled. 5% of mothers washed the bottle with water alone; 30% washed with an abrasive such as sand or ash. 49% never boiled the feeding bottle; 33% boiled the bottle once a day and 18% boiled it before each feed. 23% claimed no incident or vomiting or diarrhoea 26% admitted 1-2 incidents of vomiting or diarrhoea; 21% less than monthly bouts; 12% more than monthly bouts; and 18% admitted to weekly or more incidents of diarrhoea and vomiting. Deaths in rural India in the under age 5 group are attributed to malnutrition in 5% of cases.