Knowledge and Practices of Exclusive Breastfeeding among Women in Rural Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Background: Breast feeding has been defines as the practice through which adequate nutrition and other nutritional requirements of the new born are being taken care of. Exclusively Breast feeding is a term used to define the process by which only breast milk is given to the new born till the first six months of life. But it has been enveloped in many layers of the factors like the Social and cultural attitudes which further affect the practice and rate of breast feeding worldwide and also in India which is considered to be one of the major reasons for the IMR and under-5 mortality rate. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted using a semi-structured interview schedule. A total of 256 mothers who were in their reproductive age and had delivered in the last 12 months were interviewed. Results: While studying the practice of exclusive breast-feeding among the participants it was seen that the practice of exclusive breast-feeding was were low among them, i.e., only 24.8% of the total women going for the practice of exclusive breast-feeding. On looking at the various reasons for the early cessation of exclusive breast feeding, multiple responses were seen like breast related factors included reasons like breast feeding were painful or the baby had difficulty in swallowing. Cultural belief was seen to be one of most dominant factor for the practice of giving prelacteal feed. It was seen that many factors associated with the practice of breastfeeding including psychosocial factors, maternal socio-demographic characteristics, hospital practices and environmental support, etc. Conclusion: Nutrition has been considered to be one of the basis of a healthy foundation of the future. Breast milk and breast feeding has been considered to be the best nutrition for the new born till the first six months of age. Under nutrition during first two years impairs not only the cognitive development, intelligence, strength, energy and productivity. Although breast feeding is almost universal in India the rate of early initiation of breast feeding and exclusive breast feeding are dismally low. Several f actors can be attributed to this which has a great influence on the breast feeding practices.