Breastfeeding Practices in Slums of Delhi, India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants. The WHO recommends that for the first six months of life, infants should be exclusively breastfed to achieve optimal growth, development, and health. With the primary objective to identify breast feeding practices in mothers of infants 1-6 month of age, this cross-sectional study was conducted in three slums of three different districts of Delhi. A sample of 425 infants (1-6 months of age) and their mothers was selected by multi-stage sampling and primary data was collected over a period of 3 months from October 2018 to December 2018 by interviewing the mothers using a structured interview schedule. It was found that breastfeeding was initiated within one hour of birth in 39.6 % of the infants, Colostrum was given to 80.0 percent of the infants and the rate of exclusive breastfeeding was found to be 66.4 percent, which is much less than the desired optimal practice. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that more focus should be given on interpersonal communication, health education and social and behaviour change communication regarding breastfeeding practices at different levels and orientation and training of health personnel regarding optimal breastfeeding practices should be reemphasized.

The Road to India’s Renewable Energy Transition Must Pass through Crowded Lands

“…Repurposing renewable energy on former mining lands reduces pressure on productive agriculture and natural lands, while at the same time contributing to energy security and providing economic benefits and jobs to post-mining communities. In India, approximately 3000 km 2 has already been mined for coal and lignite, with nearly 50% of these sites located in states with high renewable energy resource potential such as Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh [74]. Repurposing even a modest 30% of these mined lands has the potential to generate approximately 40 to 60 GW of renewable energy.…”

Exclusive Breastfeeding, Blood Volume and Bleeding Duration on Postpartum Period at Kassi-Kassi Primary Health Centre (PHC), Makassar, Indonesia

“…It is a good strategy as well for child survival. Breast milk is a very good intake in the first thousand days of birth because it provides complete nutrition for baby and it is ideal for the few first months as it is nurture provided by the nature 1 . Breastfeeding infants is the best way to improve nutrition and the quality of human resources.…”