BREAST FEEDING PRACTICES AND ITS CONSTRAINTS AMONG A RURAL POPULATION IN HARYANA, INDIA

DR. PANDA MEELY, DR. VASHISHT BRIJ MOHAN, DR. KONAR AMRITA

*Senior resident, Dept of community medicine, Jamia Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences & research, HIMSR, New Delhi. 

ABSTRACT

Background: Promotion and support of breast feeding is a global priority and an important child survival intervention. Objective: Objective of this study was to find out the breast feeding practices and its constraints among a rural population in Haryana, India. Methods: All delivered mothers, from among 5 villages, who had delivered for the first time and had children between 1 – 2 years were included in the study. Consent was taken from them and they were informed well about the purpose of the study. Ethical clearance was obtained for the study. The study period ranged from October 2013 till March 2014. A pre-designed, semi-structured schedule was administered to them and they were interviewed regarding their socio-demographic details, their ante-natal care details, delivery details, breast feeding practices and regarding the services they got from their auxiliary nurse midwife (ANMs). Observations: It was found that there were 42(16.1%) mothers who were not breast feeding their babies due to some or other reasons. Rest 218 (83.9%) did feed their child, however. From among them it was found that only 55(25.2%) exclusively breast fed their child. Conclusions: It was found that maximum study subjects who exclusively breast fed their child were < 25 years, were educated and belonged to lower socio economic status. Exclusive breast feeding was more among non working females. Similarly, exclusive breast feeding was more in those subjects who delivered in government health facilities, availed complete ante-natal care facilities in subcentre and were counseled about breast feeding practices previously.

Keywords: Exclusive breast feeding, ante natal care, postnatal counseling