A cross sectional study to assess factors related to exclusive breast feeding practice among mothers of infants aged six months or less admitted in pediatric wards at tertiary care hospital

Niti V. Singh; Vijaykumar Singh; Soujannya K. Chowdhury

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20212583

Authors

Niti V. Singh HBT Medical College and Dr. R N Cooper Municipal General Hospital, Andheri, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Vijaykumar Singh Department of Community Medicine, LTMMC & GH, Sion, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Soujannya K. Chowdhury Department of Community Medicine, LTMMC & GH, Sion, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20212583

Keywords:

Mother, Infant, Breastfeeding

Abstract

Background: Infant feeding practices have a major role in determining the nutritional status of a child. Despite several benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, the practice is not common in many developing nations, including India. So there is a need to assess factors associated with exclusive breast feeding by mothers.

Methods: A cross sectional study using the quantitative method by the means of a well prepared questionnaire, carried out in the pediatric ward of a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai. Data was collected by face to face interview and filed in a pretested, semi-structured, questionnaire. Data entry was done in excel sheet and analysed with the help of epi-info and statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) software and was presented in tabular and graphical form.

Results: A total of 112 mothers with infants <6 months of age participated in the study with a response rate of 98%.

Conclusions: Majority of mothers’ perception about exclusive breastfeeding was that they considered it insufficient for their infant’s health and nutrition, and hence also relied on other feeds.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Author Biography

Soujannya K. Chowdhury, Department of Community Medicine, LTMMC & GH, Sion, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Department of Community Medicine

References

Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) Model Chapter for Textbooks for medical students and allied health professionals. Switzerland: WHO. 2009. Available at: https://www.who.int/nutrition/ publications/infantfeeding/9789241597494/en/. Accessed on 15 January 2021.

Global strategy for infant and young child feeding. The optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Geneva: WHO. 2001. Available at: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/78801. Accessed on 15 January 2021.

The optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding: the report of an expert consultation, Geneva: WHO. 2001. Available at: https://www.who.int/nutrition/ publications/infantfeeding/WHO_NHD_01.09/en/. Accessed on 15 January 2021.

Phukan D, Ranjan M, Dwivedi LK. Impact of timing of breastfeeding initiation on neonatal mortality in India. Int Breastfeed J. 2018;13:27.

The National Guidelines on Infant and Young Child feeding, Second edition. 2006;9.

International Institute for population Sciences, Indian National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), 2015-16. International Institute for Population Sciences. 2007.

Lenja A, Demissie T, Yohannes B. Determinants of exclusive breast feeding practices to infants aged less than six months in Offa district, Southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional survey. Int Breastfeed J. 2016;11:32.

WHO/UNICEF. Acceptable medical reasons for use of breast-milk substitutes. 2009. Available at: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2009/WHO_FCH_CAH_09.01_eng.pdf. Accessed on 15 January 2021.

Bhanderi DJ, Pandya YP, Sharma DB. Barriers to exclusive breastfeeding in rural community of central Gujarat, India. J Family Med Prim Care. 2019;8(1):54-61.