An assessment of knowledge and practices of breastfeeding among mothers having child less than 2 years of age in a city of central Uttar Pradesh, India

Authors

  • Bipul Kumar Department of Pediatrics, Command Hospital (Central Command), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8551-3635
  • Tathagata Bose Department of Pediatrics, Command Hospital (Central Command), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Saurav Das Department of Pediatrics, Command Hospital (Central Command), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Ashish Kumar Gupta Department of Pediatrics, Command Hospital (Central Command), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Ashutosh Kumar Department of Pediatrics, Command Hospital (Central Command), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Ashok Bhandari Department of Pediatrics, Command Hospital (Central Command), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20205504

Keywords:

Breastfeeding, Complementary feeding, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice

Abstract

Background: Breastmilk is the natural first food for babies which provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the first few months of life. More than two thirds of the 2.4 million child deaths occurring each year in India are related to inappropriate infant feeding practices. Initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth in central Indian states is among the lowest. The situation in central Indian states especially Uttar Pradesh is worse than the rest of India which is usually attributed to prevalent socio-economic and cultural factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study that was conducted among 144 mothers visiting a tertiary care hospital in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India over a period of nine months using a questionnaire-based interview.  

Results: The study found that majority of subjects has good knowledge about breastfeeding. 92.4% mothers reported knowledge of putting the baby on the breast within an hour of birth. 65% had the correct breastfeeding position knowledge. Majority were aware that breastfeeding protects from various infections and that colostrum or first milk serves as the first immunization for the baby. 90.3% knew the correct definition of complementary feeding. Most of the subjects planned to breastfeed their baby for a year or more (86.8%).  

Conclusions: Majority mothers had good knowledge of breastfeeding and complementary feeding and good breastfeeding practices were being followed. This study brought out that educated mothers had better breastfeeding knowledge and practices, thus highlighting to the importance of formal education in mothers.

Author Biography

Bipul Kumar, Department of Pediatrics, Command Hospital (Central Command), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

Associate Professor

References

WHO / Maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health/breastfeeding. Available at: (www.who.int/ maternal_child_adolescent/topics/child/nutrition/breastfeeding/en). Accessed on 20 Nov 2020.

National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), 2015-16. Available at: http://rchiips.org/nfhs/factsheet_nfhs-4.shtml. Accessed on 01 December 2020.

Shashank KJ, Chethan TK. A study on breastfeeding practices among mothers in rural area of Mangalore: a cross-sectional study. Nation J Commun Medic. 2016;7(2):134-7.

UNICEF. From the First Hour of Life: Making the case for improved infant and young child feeding everywhere. New York, USA: UNICEF; 2016.

National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), Mitra and Associates, ICF International. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2014. Dhaka, Bangladesh and Calverton, Maryland, USA: NIPORT, Mitra and Associates, and ICF International; 2015.

Al Ketbi MI, Al Noman S, Al Ali A, Darwish E, Al Fahim M, Rajah J. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of breastfeeding among women visiting primary healthcare clinics on the island of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Int Breastfeed J. 2018;13(1):26.

Choudhary AK, Bankwar V, Choudhary A. Knowledge regarding breastfeeding and factors associated with its practice among postnatal mothers in central India. Int J Medic Sci Pub Heal. 2015;4(7):973-76.

Ulak M, Chandyo RK, Mellander L, Shrestha PS, Strand TA. Infant feeding practices in Bhaktapur, Nepal: a cross-sectional, health facility-based survey. Int Breastfeed J. 2012;7(1):1.

Laouar A. Maternal leukocytes and infant immune programming during breastfeeding. Tren Immunol. 2020;41(3):225-39.

Ahmed HM. Knowledge and Attitudes of Pregnant Women Regarding Breastfeeding. Polytechn J. 2019;9(2):55-62.

Joshi S, Barakoti B, Lamsal S. Colostrum Feeding: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice in Pregnant Women in a Teaching Hospital in Nepal. Webmed Central Medical Educat. 2012;3(8).

Rahalkar AA, Phalke DB, Phalke VD. A study of breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices with emphasis on misconceptions amongst the women with under two-year children in rural area. Int J Medic Res Heal Sci. 2014;3(4):851-5.

Kakati R, Rahman SJ, Borah M, Borah H. Colostrum feeding practices and its determinants among urban and rural mothers in Kamrup, Assam, India. Int J Res Med Sci. 2016;4(10):4567-72.

Sushma. Knowledge, attitude and practices of mothers regarding infant feeding practices. Nation J Commun Medic. 3.2(2013):147-50.

Sultania P, Agrawal NR, Rani A, Dharel D, Charles R, Dudani R. Breastfeeding knowledge and behavior among women visiting a tertiary care center in India: a cross-sectional survey. Ann Glob Heal. 2019;85(1).

Chaudhary RN, Shah T, Raja S. Knowledge and practice of mothers regarding breast feeding: a hospital-based study. Heal Renaiss. 2011;9:194-200.

Mohsin SS, Shaikh AS, Shaikh R, Haider N, Parkash A. Knowledge attitude and practices of mothers regarding complementary feeding. J Dow Univ Heal Sci. 2014;8(1):21-5.

Parikh P, Sharma K. knowledge & perceptions of ICDS anganwadi workers with reference to promotion of community based complementary feeding practices in semi tribal Gujarat. Nation J Commun Medic. 2011;2(3):457-64.

Berisha M, Ramadani N, Hoxha R, Gashi S, Zhjeqi V, Zajmi D, et al. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of mothers in kosova about complementary feeding for infant and children 6-24 months. Medic Arch. 2017;71(1):37.

Jain S, Thapar RK, Gupta RK. Complete coverage and covering completely: Breast feeding and complementary feeding: Knowledge, attitude, and practices of mothers. Med J Armed Forces Ind. 2018;74(1):28-32.

Meshram II, Laxmaiah A, Venkaiah K, Brahmam GN. Impact of feeding and breastfeeding practices on the nutritional status of infants in a district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Nation Medic J Ind. 2012;25(4):201.

Memon S, Shaikh S, Kousar T, Memon Y, Rubina Y. Assessment of infant feeding practices at a tertiary care hospital. J Pak Medic Assoc. 2010;60(12):1010.

Girish S, Gandhimathi M. Primipara Mother’s Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Breastfeeding. International J Advanc Nurs Sci Pract. 2015;2(1):41-8.

Mbada CE, Olowookere AE, Faronbi JO, Oyinlola-Aromolaran FC, Faremi FA, Ogundele AO, et al. Knowledge, attitude and techniques of breastfeeding among Nigerian mothers from a semi-urban community. Bio Med Cent Res. 2013;6(1):552.

Amin T, Hablas H, Al Qader AA. Determinants of initiation and exclusivity of breastfeeding in Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia. Breastfeed Medic. 2011;6(2):59-68.

Downloads

Published

2020-12-23

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles