Knowledge and Practices Regarding Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding Among Migrant Mothers of Haldwani Block , District Nainital , Uttarakhand

Thakkar Hema K; Farha Akhtar; Shantanu Aggarwal; CMS Rawat

Volume : VII, Issue : IX, September - 2017

Knowledge and Practices Regarding Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding Among Migrant Mothers of Haldwani Block , District Nainital , Uttarakhand

Thakkar Hema K, Farha Akhtar, Shantanu Aggarwal, Cms Rawat

Abstract :

INTRODUCTION: Breast milk is the ideal food for the baby & it offers various benefits to both mother & baby. Exclusive east feeding for 6 months & continued feeding after that for at least up to 2 years of age can prevent mortality among children to a great extent on a global level.

MATERIAL & METHOD: A cross–sectional study was conducted from October 2016 to December 2016 among migrant mothers having child less than two years of age in two of the selected clusters. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire & analysed using SPSS 17.

RESULTS: A total of 137 mothers having child less than 2 years were included in the study. Only 10.9% mothers knew that the time of initiation of eastfeeding should be within ½ to 1 hour after birth.Only 45.3% knew that complementary feeding should be started after 6 months of age. 38% initiated eastfeeding within one hour of birth, 42.3% mothers offered pre–lacteal feed to the baby. Exclusive eastfeeding was followed by 40.9% of mothers. Complementary feeding was started after 6 months by 40.9% of the mothers.

CONCLUSION: Migrant mothers had low level of knowledge about eastfeeding & complementary feeding. Also, practices of the mothers regarding east feeding were suboptimal.