Prevalence of Exclusive Breast Feeding Practices among Mothers ofInfants

INTRODUCTION

Breastfeeding is the simplest, healthiest and least expensive feeding method that fulfills the infants’ needs^.1,2 Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) has been identified as one of the most important preventive interventions for child survival.¹

Breastfeeding must be initiated as early as possible after birth for all normal newborns (including those born by caesarean section) avoiding delay beyond an hour colostrum must not be discarded but should be fed to newborn as it contains high concentration of protective immuno-globulins and cells. No pre-lacteal fluid should be given to the newborn. Exclusive breastfeeding should be practicedfrom birth till six months, which means that no other foodor fluids should be given to the infant below sixmonths of age unless medically indicated.Breast milk provides sufficient energy and protein to meet requirements during the first 6 months of infancy. After completion of six months of age, with introduction of optimal complementary feeding, breastfeeding should be continued for aminimum for 2 years and beyond, depending on the choice of mother and the baby².

Breast milk provides the best and the complete nourishment for the baby during the first six months of life. The optimal infant and young child feeding practices, especially the early initiation of and the exclusive breast feeding for the first six months of life, help in ensuring young children the best possible start in life.³

A child who is breast-fed has greater chances of survival than a child who has been artificially fed. Also, infants who are not breastfed have a six fold greater risk of dying from infectious diseases (which include diarrhoea) in the first two months of life, than those who are breastfed.Breastfeeding has many health and developmental advantages for the infants and their mothers and it is the preferred way of feeding the infants to promote optimal infant health and a reduced morbidity later in life.³

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond. Promotion of exclusive breastfeeding is the single most costeffective intervention to reduce infant mortality in developing countries.⁴

In India the percentage of initiation of Breastfeeding within 1 hour, practice of Exclusive Breastfeeding (0-6 months) and Complementary Feeding (6-9 months) is 24.5%, 46.4% and 56.7% respectively. Where as in Karnataka, the percentage is 37.5%, 58% and 72.5% respectively.⁵

In view of the above facts, the present study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of Exclusive Breast Feeding practice among mothers of infants

OBJECTIVES

1. To assess the prevalence of exclusive breast feeding practice among mothers of infants.

2. To find association between prevalence of exclusive breast feeding practice and selected socio demographic variables. 

METHODOLOGY

A descriptive approach and non-experimental descriptive research design was used to conduct the study. Non probability convenient sampling technique was used to select 150 mothers of Infants (aged 6–12 months), who attended the Paediatric OPD of Ramaiah Hospital in Bangalore. Permission was obtained from the concerned hospital authorities to conduct study and informed consent was obtained from the mothers of infants. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and breastfeeding practices was collected from mothers by interview method. Data was analyzed in terms of objectives of the study by using descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS

I. Socio-demographic charactersitcs of underfive children:

In the present study, majority (77.3 %) of mothers were in the age group of 20 – 30 years, 82.3 % of them were belonged to Hindu religion. Majority (65.3%) of mothers resided in urban area. Twenty seven percent of mothers studied up to PUC and majority (76%) of them were home makers. Most (59.3%) of the mothers belonged to nuclear family and 44% of them had monthly family income of less than Rs.10,000. Majority (76%) of themothers were aged between 20 - 30 years at the time of delivery and majority (62.0%) of children were first child for their parents. Majority (50.7%) of children’s birth weight swas between 2-3 kg, 97.3% of mothers gave birth to their children inthe Hospital, 62% of mothers wereprimipara and more than 50% of them had received counselling on importance of breast feeding.

II. Prevalence of Exclusive Breastfeeding

The majority of the mothers (72%) exclusive breast fed their infants for first 6 months of life, 33.3%of mothersinitiated breastfeedingafter 2 hours of delivery. Majority (63.3%) of mothers breastfed their infants 8 – 12 times per day, 14.7% of mothershad not given colostrum to baby and 25.3% mothers revealed that they had given prelacteal feeds to their infants. 

III. Association between prevalence of exclusive breast feeding practices and selected socio demographic variables of mothers.

The chi-square analysis showed significant association between prevalence of exclusive breast feeding practice and sociodemographic variables such as age of the mother at birth and gestational age of the child at birth

DISCUSSION

The present study found that majority of the mothers (72%) were exclusively given breast milk to their children for first 6 months of life and there was association between prevalence of exclusive breast feeding practices and selected socio demographic variables such as age of the mother at birth and gestational age of the baby at birth, which is comparable to a study conducted by Prakash C Jon on prevalence of exclusive Breast Feeding among 121 mothers of infants aged 0 to 6 months in Mirzapur, Bangladesh, which found the prevalence of exclusive breast feeding in the study population was 36% and there was an association between exclusive breast feeding (EBF) and having a caesarean delivery, family income. 

The study outcome shows that the prevalence of exclusive breast feeding practices was high and significant. As majority of mothers had taken more than 2 hours to initiate breastfeeding, hence mothers need adequate and proper counselling regarding early initiation of breastfeeding and health education should be given to women who are not practicing exclusive breast feeding practices. 

CONCLUSION

The study concluded that the prevalence of EBF (72%) was higher than the national figure (46.3%). Prelacteal feeding was not uncommon. These findings suggest that there is a need for breastfeeding support provided by health services. Hence, promotion of EBF during the first six months of life needs to be addressed and future breastfeeding promotion programmes should give special attention to those women who are not practicing EBF to achieve 100 % exclusive breast feeding practice.