BREAST FEEDING PRACTICES IN A RURAL AREA OF DISTRICT DEHRADUN, UTTARANCHAL K.S. Negi’ & S.D. Kandpal” ABSTRACT A total of 572 mothers ere interviewed during the year 2001 — 2002, who were having children below two years of age. Out of which 80.3% of the mothers initiated breast-feeding within 7 to 18 hours after delivery. 56.3% mothers reported to have fed colostrums, 74.1% mothers put their children on full breast-feeding while only 26.0% with partial breast-feeding. Literacy and socio-economic status had a significant association with the duration of breast- feeding (p<0.001). Causes of discontinuation of breast-feeding among mothers were insufficient milk (45.5%) and voluntary weaning (24.1%) followed by pregnancy (11.0%) while iliness of child was the cause of weaning in 19.4% mothers. Key Words: Breast- feeding, Weaning, Socio-economic status. INTRODUCTION It is well known that breast-feeding improves child survival by providing protection against infectious diseases and malnutrition for the baby.’ Exclusive breast-feeding can save many lives by preventing malnutrition and reducing the risk of infections and hypothermia. Exclusive breast-feeding should be practiced for at least four months and preferably six months in poor countries since they have a high risk of infection through contaminated water and food? and to continue breast-feeding supplemented by other appropriate foods up to 2 years of life. Breast milk has been considered as 1. Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Ram Nagar (Jolly Grant, Dehradun, Uttaranchal. Indexed in : index Medicus (IMSEAR), INSDOG, NCI Current Content, Database of Aicohol and Drug Abuse, National Database in TB and Allied Diseases, IndMED, Entered in WHO CD ROM for South East AsiaKS Negi & SD Kandpal Breast feeding practices in a rural area of District Dehradun the most suited food for the child world over.** In rural communities, the child is often breast fed till mother's milk is exhausted. The duration of breast-feeding varies with rural/ urban residence, literacy, socio-economic status and other factors. “® Keeping this view point in mind, the present study was. conducted to assess the various socio-economic and cultural factors associated with breast practices in a rural community of District Dehradun (Uttaranchal). MATERIAL AND METHODS "The study was carried out in the Immunization Ciinic at the sub-centre located in the State Allopathic Dispensary (SAD), Ranipokhari of District Dehradun during the period between July 2001 and June 2002. The study subjects were lactating mothers having children aged six weeks to 24 months attending the sub-centre with their children for vaccination and for the treatment of other minor illnesses. Information regarding breast-feeding. education and socio-economic status etc, were collected from these mothers on a pre-designed and pre-tested proforma. Full breast-feeding means breast mik only whereas partial breast-feeding intends breast milk along with other top-fed milk, They were also enquired about colostrums feeding. The data was statistically analyzed by applying Chi- Square test. RESULT AND DISCUSSION Table-1 reveals that the majority of the mothers 80.3% had initiated breast-feeding between 7 hours and 18 hours after delivery. TABLE- 1: Distribution of mothers according to time of initiation of breast-feeding. Similar findings have also been observed by Ram et al.’ Gai l en | aes ie., 85.5% where as Kar et al® and Dutta Banik” have reported [>> 30 Te2 that 51.3% and 42.9% of infants respectively were put to breast [7 >> 156 | 27.1 milk within first 24 hours after their birth. It may be noted that only 43-48 303 53.0 5.2% mothers put their newboms on breast milk within 6 hours of [oq 3 |us their delivery. Total 572 | 100.0 | Indian J. Prev. Soc. Med Vol, 35.N0.3 LL4 485 Juby - Dec., 2004KS Negi & SD Kandpat Breast feeding practices in a rural area of District Dehradun Table-2 depicts that the percentage of mothers with full breast-feeding was 73.8% whereas partial breast-feeding had its part as 26.2%. Singh G"° has found in his hospital based study that 70.2% women were with full breast-feeding and 29.8% woman were adopting partial breast-feeding for their children. An interesting finding which emerged from the present study is that 87.4% mothers have put their offspring’s on full breast feeding up to 6 months after delivery, on the contrary Singh G" had reported the same to be 11.7% in his study. TABLE-2: Distribution of mothers according to duration of breast-feeding. Durati Bi st-feedit Total No. As far as the type of top-fed milk is concemed, | ofbreast- |Full | pacar | of has been observed that 47.7% mothers fed | feeding molten ae a oy | (mths) (No. | % | No. | % | No. | % buffalo's milk, few cow's milk, 17.2% fed mixed [5% aeraldaraliaralaoelicialastal milk (Buffalo's + cow's + goat's) and only 3.3% | 7-12 496 | 81.3] 45 |18.7 | 244 | 421 mothers fed powdered milk to their children. ao Be CE eal EE Total 422 | 73.8[ 450 [150 | 572 | 100. TABLE: 3 : Duration of breast feeding according to educational status of mothers Educational |_ Duration of breast feeding (months) | Total Table-3 & 4 show that} PSsrsie n a ae | educational and —_socio- | Noo} % | No. | % | No.1 % economic status of mothers | Illiterate 82_| 320 | 130 |50.6| 45 | 17.4[ 257 have a significant association -Priman/ Middie | 70 | 38.3 | 61 [33.3 [62 [264 | 163 o [High Schoo [43 [443 | 36 | 37.1| 18 | 186] 97 with duration of breast feeding | Intermediate (p<0.001), ie, as we move | Graduate! | 19 | S43 | 14 | 40.0) 02 | 5.7 | 35 towards higher education and | Total 21a | 37.4 | 24 [42.4] 197 | 205) 572 i 42 = 25.6; p <0.001 TABLE- 4 : Duration of breast-feeding according to Socio-economic status of mothers high socio-economic status, [~_ Socio- Duration of breast feeding (months) _| Total i economic 0-6 TAZ 43-24 the duration of breast feedin: ots oe No. | % |No.| % | No] % becomes shorter, concurring | jober 35 | 622 | 23 [343] 09 | 135] 67 with the finding reported by | Middle 51 {| 455 | 35 | 31.3] 26 | 23.2 112 Ram et al? and Kar et al® LowerMiddie | 69 | 394 | 63 [360| 43 | 240| 175 Lower 59 | 27.1 | 120 |55.0| 39 | 17.9| 218 Total 214 | 37.4 | 241 | 42.4] 117 | 20.5) 572 4 Indian J. Prev. Soc. Med Vol. 35 No.3 L4 186 Juy - Dec., 2004