ASSESSMENT OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL FACTORS AFFECTING AWARENESS OF MOTHERS REGARDING BREASTFEEDING IN CHANDIGARH.

Navpreet Kaur; Dr N K Goel; Dr Manoj kumar; Dr Meenu Kalia

Volume : VI, Issue : XII, December - 2017

ASSESSMENT OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL FACTORS AFFECTING AWARENESS OF MOTHERS REGARDING BREASTFEEDING IN CHANDIGARH.

Navpreet Kaur, Dr N K Goel, Dr Manoj Kumar, Dr Meenu Kalia

Abstract :

Background: Breastfeeding is generally considered by health professionals as the ideal feeding practices for infants. It is the first communication pathway between the mother and her infant. Objectives:1. Assessment of epidemiological factors affecting awareness of mothers regarding east feeding. 2. To find the knowledge and attitude of mothers regarding feeding practices.3. To determine the gap between the knowledge and feeding practices among mothers. Methodology: All females attending immunization clinic in UHTC AND RHTC between January 2017toApril2017 and willing to participate in the study were taken as study subjects. Convenient sampling technique was used. Results: Mothers participated in the study fall in age group of 26 to 30 years. 59 (29.5%) mothers are less educated i.e. up to metric. Out of working mother only 27 (79.41%) were given private place for east feeding. 186 (93.0%) mothers were counselled at the time of delivery regarding the frequency and duration of eastfeeding practices. Majority of the children i.e 182 (91.0%) were given Colostrum as a first feed. 95 (47.5%) mothers initiated eastfeeding after 24 hours due to lack of milk formation and thickness of east milk.92 (46%) mothers gave exclusive eastfeed to their babies, 59.5% babies were given mixed feed (east milk and cow�s milk) as a complimentary feed .90.00% of the mothers believed that east milk contains all the essential nutrients for a newborn child. Conclusions: Mothers were highly knowledgeable about eastfeeding. They were able to recognize the benefits of eastfeeding and the importance of Colostrum. The exclusive eastfeeding rate was low. The main factors observed that interfere with exclusive eastfeeding are the perception of mothers that the east milk is was not adequate and being thick for the baby. Delay in initiation of lactation is due to caesarean section and neonatal illness and hospitalization.