Sunil Jain1, R K Thapar2, R K Gupta3. 1. Classified Specialist (Paediatrics), Command Hospital (Central Command), Lucknow 226002, India. 2. Senior Advisor (Paediatrics & Neonatology), Command Hospital (Central Command), Lucknow 226002, India. 3. Professor & Head, Department of Paediatrics, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 411040, India.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Knowing current trends for timely comprehensive action for health promotion practices is an important prerequisite for medical practitioners and policy makers. METHODS: A survey of mothers at a Tertiary Care Hospital in central India. RESULTS: On the knowledge front >83.75% of the mothers studied showed good knowledge about breastfeeding and complementary feeding. Similar, but not as encouraging, were the results about attitude, with 76.25% of mothers having a positive attitude. The results of the practices part were varied. The WHO indicators assessed were 'early initiation of breastfeeding' (68.75%), 'exclusive breastfeeding under 6 months' (85%) (however exclusive breast feeding for first 6 months was carried out by only 36.25%), 'introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods' (48.75%), 'continued breastfeeding at 1 year' (63.75%) and 'continued breastfeeding at 2 years' (6.25%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a discrepancy between knowledge and practices. The exclusive breast feeding rates are far from the ideal and there is a decline of continued breast feeding beyond 15 months. This calls for sustained efforts with the aim - 'cover all and cover completely'. The ideal WHO indicator for exclusive breast feeding should be 'exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months' which will provide information about the completeness of this ideal practice.
BACKGROUND: Knowing current trends for timely comprehensive action for health promotion practices is an important prerequisite for medical practitioners and policy makers. METHODS: A survey of mothers at a Tertiary Care Hospital in central India. RESULTS: On the knowledge front >83.75% of the mothers studied showed good knowledge about breastfeeding and complementary feeding. Similar, but not as encouraging, were the results about attitude, with 76.25% of mothers having a positive attitude. The results of the practices part were varied. The WHO indicators assessed were 'early initiation of breastfeeding' (68.75%), 'exclusive breastfeeding under 6 months' (85%) (however exclusive breast feeding for first 6 months was carried out by only 36.25%), 'introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods' (48.75%), 'continued breastfeeding at 1 year' (63.75%) and 'continued breastfeeding at 2 years' (6.25%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a discrepancy between knowledge and practices. The exclusive breast feeding rates are far from the ideal and there is a decline of continued breast feeding beyond 15 months. This calls for sustained efforts with the aim - 'cover all and cover completely'. The ideal WHO indicator for exclusive breast feeding should be 'exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months' which will provide information about the completeness of this ideal practice.
Entities:
Keywords:
Breast feeding; Complementary feeding; Mothers; Trends; WHO indicators
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