Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: September | Volume: 10 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 436-440
Breast Feeding Practices among Lactating Women in Rural Varanasi
Pallavi Pandey
Junior Resident, Department of Community Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi,
ABSTRACT
Background: Nutrition in early days of an infant plays the crucial role of building his health for his whole life. Proper nourishment provided to an infant will help in his growth and development. Breast feeding provides all essential nutrients in appropriate amount which are required by a new born for a healthy life. There are various practices associated with breastfeeding which should be assessed.
Objective: To assess breast feeding practices among lactating women in rural Varanasi
Method : A total of 184 lactating women, whose child were of age equal to or less than one year, were interviewed adopting a community based cross sectional study design. Various practices associated with breast feeding were assessed among lactating women.
Results: A small proportion of mothers (12.5%) said that they had initiated breast feeding within one hour. Most of the mothers (73.9%) had given colostrums to the new born. Very few (15.8%) of the infant had exclusive breast feeding. Nearly half (47.3%) of the infant were given pre-lacteal feed and most of them (43.7%) had given honey as pre-lacteal feed.
Conclusion: Mothers practised breast feeding but still there were many malpractices that were prevalent. Very few mothers practised exclusive breast feeding, so there was need to create awareness among mothers about the importance and benefits of exclusive breast feeding. Pregnant and lactating women should be educated on importance of breastfeeding and harms of pre-lacteal feeds.
Key words: Colostrum, Pre-lacteal feed