Breast feeding practices in an urban community of Kalamboli Navi Mumbai.

Abstract

Objective: To study the Breast feeding practices and the influence of literacy and cultural factors on breast-feeding practices in mothers attending immunization clinic in an urban community of Navi-Mumbai. Study Design: Cross- sectional study. Setting: Immunisation clinic MGM Kalamboli Hospital. Study Period: October 2001 – March 2002. Study Participants: 122 mothers attending immunisation clinic having children up to 2 years of age. Study variables: Literacy Time of initiation Place of delivery. Statistical Analysis: Chi-square test and percentages. Results: 44 (36.1%) mothers gave pre-lacteals to their children. 52 (70.2%) practised exclusive breast-feeding and 9(7.4%) started bottle feeds to their babies. 61.3% of literate mothers while 43.7% of illiterate mothers initiated breast-feeding within 6 hours of delivery. The association between introduction of pre-lacteals and place of delivery was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). Only 1.9% of literate mothers had rejected colostrums as against 25% of illiterate mothers. Conclusion: Undesirable cultural practices such as giving pre-lacteal feeds rejection of colostrums and late initiation of breast feeding are still prevalent among the mothers more so among illiterates and these should be discouraged by proper IEC activities. (authors)