Infant feeding practices in Bhaktapur, Nepal: a cross-sectional, health facility based survey

Abstract

BackgroundPromotion of proper breastfeeding practices for the first six months of life is the most cost-effective intervention for reducing childhood morbidity and mortality. However, the adherence to breastfeeding recommendations in many developing countries is not satisfactory. The aims of the study were to determine breastfeeding and infant feeding patterns at nine months of age and to assess factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding practices.MethodsIn Bhaktapur, Nepal, we carried out a cross-sectional survey of 325 infants who came for measles vaccination at the age of nine months. Mothers were interviewed on details regarding feeding of their child and health since birth.ResultsThree quarters of all mothers reported that they did not receive any information on breastfeeding during the antenatal visit. Two hundred and ninety five (91%) mothers gave colostrum and 185 (57%) initiated breastfeeding within one hour of delivery. The prevalence of exclusively breastfeeding at 1, 3 and 6 months were 240 (74%), 78 (24%) and 29 (9%), and partial feeding was initiated in 49 (15%), 124 (38%) and 257 (79%) babies, respectively. The main reason, according to the mother, for introducing other foods before six months of age was insufficient breast milk. In logistic regression analyses, mother's knowledge on how long child should be given only breast milk and not living in joint families were associated positively with exclusive or predominant breastfeeding for four months or beyond.ConclusionsDespite the high proportion of mothers who initiated breastfeeding immediately after birth, continuation of exclusive breastfeeding for up to six months was not common. Very few mothers received any information on breastfeeding during the antenatal visit, indicating a need for counseling on exclusive breastfeeding. Possible options for this counseling could be during antenatal visits and at regular clinic visits for vaccination.

Current practices on infant feeding in rural areas of Assam, India: a community based cross sectional study

“…16,19,28 Ulak M et al also reported that 79% infants were introduced to complementary food before six months of age and the main reason was assumed insufficient breast milk production. 29 Holambe VM et al observed in their study that late introduction of complementary food was associated with maternal age, education and parity. 30 Limitations of our study: due to limited time and resource the study could not analyse thoroughly all the factors associated with breast feeding and complementary feeding.…”

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards Colostrum Feeding Among Antenatal Care Attendant Pregnant Mothers in Mizan Tepi University Teaching Hospital, Bench Maji Zone, SNNPR, South West Ethiopia, 2016/2017 G.C

“…Appreciate and initiate Counseling methods to reinforce specific, priority messages by health facility staff and community-based workers at all contact points with pregnant women. It also provides base line information for further study [45][46][47][48]. The study about colostrums was not conducted in bench Maji zone southern Ethiopia.…”

Breastfeeding practices in occupational castes of Sunsari district of Nepal

“…15 Another study showed that 91 % mothers had fed colostrums to their babies. 6 Colostrums feeding was popular among the mothers. No other in-depth reasons were asked to the mothers who did not fed colostrums.…”

“…5 The prevalence of exclusively breastfeeding at 1, 3 and 6 months were 74%, 24% and 9%, and partial feeding was initiated in 15%, 38% and 79% babies, respectively in Bhaktapur district of Nepal. 6 The cultural food taboos and beliefs which are deeply rooted in some communities are found to influence…”