European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Aim: to determine the prevalence and factors associated for faulty feeding on exclusive breast feeding practices of children less than six Months.
Material and methods: This cross-sectional study was done the Upgraded Department of Paediatrics, Patna Medical College & Hospital, Patna, Bihar, India, from October 2015  to October 2016.200 Lactating mothers who had under six-month infants were included. The WHO Breast Feed observational checklist was used to assess mother and baby’s position, infant’s mouth attachment, and suckling. According to WHO criteria, four components (i.e. baby body should be straight and slightly extended, baby body close and turned toward the mother, the whole body supported, and baby facing toward the mother’s breast) are used to assess the baby’s position in relation to the mother’s body.  We observe the breastfeeding process for five minutes and record as per the WHO breast feed observation form.
Results: In our study we had 200 infants of 0-6 month along with their mother as study subjects with mean age of mother being 26.48±3.78, with range 18-35 yrs. Total 155 infant born was male whereas rest 45 were female, 110 infants were primigravida, 70 had 2nd birth order and rest 20 had higher birth order. In out of 200 study subjects 7 (3.5%) had not initiated breast feeding at all, they were on top feeding, in 33(16.5%) study subjects initiation of breast feeding was done after 1 day, in 44 (22%) study subjects it was between 1hr-1 day, and in rest 116 (58%) initiation of breast feeding was done within 1 hr. 41 (20.5%) out of 200 infants included in our study were given colostrum whereas rest 159 (79.5%) infants were not given colostrum. 114 (57%) study subjects were given exclusive breast feeding, 70 (35%) study subjects were given exclusive breast feeding only for some period and rest 16 (8%) had not given exclusive breast feeding since birth.
Conclusion: The Exclusive Breast Feeding was satisfactory (57%). Some basic reason for faulty feeding were mothers’ belief that no milk, insufficient milk, baby is sick, mother is working/studying.