BREASTFEEDING PRACTICES AMONG MOTHERS ENROLLED AT ANGANWADIS IN URBAN SLUM AND RURAL FIELD PRACTICE AREAS OF A MEDICAL COLLEGE IN MUMBAI– A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Pragati G. Rathod; Shruti S. Shukla; Prachala G. Rathod

Volume : VII, Issue : VIII, August - 2017

BREASTFEEDING PRACTICES AMONG MOTHERS ENROLLED AT ANGANWADIS IN URBAN SLUM AND RURAL FIELD PRACTICE AREAS OF A MEDICAL COLLEGE IN MUMBAI– A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Pragati G. Rathod, Shruti S. Shukla, Prachala G. Rathod

Abstract :

Breastfeeding is one of the most important determinants of child survival, birth spacing, and prevention of childhood infections. The beneficial effects of eastfeeding depend on eastfeeding initiation and its duration. The cross–sectional observational and comparative study was carried out in rural and urban slum field practice areas of the Medical College in Mumbai from March 2008 to March 2009. Study included 104 mothers, 58 from rural and 46 from urban slum area who delivered in last 1year period. Colostrum was not given to babies in almost 45% in urban slum which is significantly higher than rural areas (20%). Present study revealed various inappropriate east feeding practices that are prevalent in both urban slum and rural areas though surprisingly rural mothers had more favorable practices compared to urban slum mothers.