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International Journal of Recent Trends in Science and Technology, E-ISSN: 2249-8109

 Volume 1, Issue 3, 2011 pp 115-119

Date of Publish: 26 December 2011

Research Article

Breast Feeding Practices inRural Mothers of Maharashtra

Wadde S. K.¹, Vedpathak V. L.², Yadav V. B.³

¹Associate professor, Department of Community Medicine, M.I.M.S.R. Medical College, Latur (MS) INDIA

²Assistant professor, Department of Community Medicine, S. R. T. R. Medical College, Ambajogai (MS) INDIA

³Professor & Head, Department of Community Medicine, M.G.M.�s Medical College, Aurangabad (MS) INDIA

Academic Editor:  Dr. Pawar D.D.

Background:  Breastfeeding is the first fundamental right of child. The nutritional and health status of the infants depends upon the feeding practices of community. It is also one of the determinants of child survival, birth spacing and prevention of infection. Beneficial effects of breastfeeding depends on correct breastfeeding practices like timely initiation, colostrum feeding, avoidance of prelacteal feeding. 

Objective: To study the breastfeeding practices in rural community.

Material & Methods: The present cross sectional study was conducted in three adopted villages of Department of P.S.M., S.R.T.R. Medical College, Ambajogai, Maharashtra. 306 mothers with youngest child in age group of 4-24 months were included in the study. The information was collected by interviewing the mothers with the help of pretested, predesigned proforma.

Results: Age of all the mothers ranged between 18 to 35 years. Out of 306 mothers enrolled in the study 33.99% were illiterate. 123 (40.2%) mothers gave some kind of prelacteal feed to the baby. Only 76 (24.84%) mothers initiated breastfeeding within half hour of delivery. Maximum i.e. 85 (36.96%) mother told reason of delayed breast feeding as �no milk secretion�. 279 (91.18%) mothers fed colostrum to their babies. Only 87 (28.43%) of the mothers followed exclusive breast feeding. Most of the mothers (90.52%) mothers followed demand feeding.

Conclusion: The study revealed very less magnitude of exclusive breastfeeding. A high number of mothers gave prelacteal feeds to their babies. There is need of breastfeeding intervention programmes mother during antenatal and postnatal check-ups.