Role of mother’s education and antenatal counselling on breast feeding practices among women in coastal Karnataka: a community based cross sectional study

Authors

  • Chethana K. Department of Community Medicine, A. J. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kuntikana, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
  • Maria Nelliyanil Department of Community Medicine, A. J. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kuntikana, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
  • Manjula Anil Department of Community Medicine, A. J. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kuntikana, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
  • Jayaram S. Department of Community Medicine, A. J. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kuntikana, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20195840

Keywords:

Antenatal counselling, Breast feeding, Colostrum, Exclusive breast feeding, Prelacteal feed

Abstract

Background: Breastfeeding has been a universal practice. A number of factors influence the breastfeeding practices of the mothers. This study was conducted to assess the breast-feeding practices and its association with mother’s education and antenatal counselling.

Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted among 167 mothers with infants who were residing in field practice area of a medical college. A pretested semi-structured validated questionnaire was administered to assess the breast-feeding practices followed. Towards the end of each interview the investigator observed the mothers as they breast fed their children to assess the appropriateness of positioning and attachment. Chi-square test and Fischer’s exact probability test were used to test the associations.

Results: 19.8% of the mothers were illiterate. 64.1% had received antenatal counselling on breast feeding. 62.3% initiated breast feeding within one hour. Colostrum was discarded by 6% of the mothers and 28.7% gave pre-lacteal feeds. 72.3%, 86.1% and 77.3% of them practiced appropriate position of feeding, held their children in the appropriate position and had good attachment to the breast, respectively. Mother’s education had a statistically significant association with pre-lacteal feeds administration, exclusive breastfeeding and breast-feeding position. Antenatal breast-feeding counselling had a statistically significant association with appropriate positioning of the child, attachment and practicing burping.

Conclusions: Breast feeding practices in the current study was far from satisfactory. Mother’s education and antenatal breast-feeding counselling had a major role in the feeding practices.

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Published

2019-12-25

How to Cite

K., C., Nelliyanil, M., Anil, M., & S., J. (2019). Role of mother’s education and antenatal counselling on breast feeding practices among women in coastal Karnataka: a community based cross sectional study. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 7(1), 122–127. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20195840

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Original Research Articles