Breastfeeding Practices of Mother`s of Children Less Than 2 Years and Its Relation to Socioeconomic Status and N Utritional Status of Mother

Abstract

AIM:To study the various demographic factors affecting breastfeeding practices and the nutritional outcome of children who were exclusively breastfed and the nutritional status who were not exclusively breastfed. METHODS: Cross sectional descriptive study of children less than 2 years in Anganwadi in and around MGM Hospital Trichy city. RESULTS: Percentage of mothers who initiated breastfeeding in less than 1 hour was 58.52% as against the Nations rate which is 23.4%, however the rate of breastfeeding more than 6 months at Nations level is 56.7% which almost close to the result obtained in this study. CONCLUSION: This study showed that maternal nutritional status and socioeconomic status remained positively associated with breastfeeding suggesting social policies affecting maternal nutrition and interventions to overall improve the better living of people which would have long lasting effect in nutritional outcome of babies. KEYWORDS: Exclusive breastfeeding, socioeconomic factors, nutritional outcome and demographic factors. INTRODUCTION:Breast milk is a "LIVE" fluid. It contains all the nutritional requirements and antiinfective properties. Human milk satisfies all the nutritional demands of an infant for the first 6 months of life. It is easily digestible and promotes skin to skin contact which strengthens emotional bond between mother and baby. Colustrum in long term prevents atherosclerosis, hypertension, obesity, allergy and facilitates immunity.WHO along with UNICEF recommends exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months of age and continued breastfeeding with complementary feeds until 2 years of age (WHO Geneva 2001). Hence the Government of India incorporated The Infant and Young Child feeding guidelines in IMNCI. 1 Its aim is to increase rate of initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hr. from existing 15.8% to 50% and also to increase exclusive breastfeeding rate in the first 6 months from the existing level of around 41% to 80% as stated by Apurba Sinhababu and Dipta et al in their study. 2 Therefore in order to promote breast feeding, authorities are called for behavior change communication through trained women for breastfeeding support would promote breastfeeding and allay myths. Intersectoral planning between the ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Women and Child Development and Food and Nutrition Department, is essential to promote breastfeeding along with ground level activities by Anganwadi workers.