Breast-feeding practices in rural Karnataka (India) with special reference to lactation failure.

A survey was done in a remote rural area of Karnataka with a questionnaire. Overall 274 lactating mothers from a population of 10,000 were interviewed, to know the practices of breast-feeding with special reference to lactation failure. It was found that the majority of the mothers (97.09%) in rural areas breast-feed. Lactation failure is not a problem. 58.4% reject colostrum but know the advantages of breast-feeding while a small number of mothers (19.8%) start supplementary feeds by three months of age. However, 80.3% of mothers breast-feed up to 12 months. Burping (44.53%) and proper posturing (92%) of the child is not being practiced. Initiation of breast-feeding within 4-6 hours was noted only in 8.03% of mothers whereas 53.07% of mothers and 9.72% of mothers started sugar water and castor oil as prelacteal feedings respectively. It is interesting to note that grandparents (21.9%) and auxiliary nurse midwives (21.9%) are the chief influencers of breast-feeding.