A study of breast feeding practices among rural women

Objectives: To study and understand the breast feeding practices among rural women like, a) when to initiate breast feeding b) how long to continue exclusive breast feeding, c) when to start supplementary feeding and d) what are all the supplementary foods. Methodology: The study included hundred women with children less than 2 years of age. By administering a questionnaire, data were collected about initiation, exclusive breast feeding and supplementary diet, data compiled, tabulated and inference arrived at. Result: It was evident from the study that the prevalence of breast feeding in the study population is universal. 99% of deliveries were institutional deliveries. 92% of mothers had correct knowledge about initiation of breast feeding, 16% reported practice of prelacteal feeds, 92% of mothers gave colostrum to their babies, 51% of study population had the knowledge and practice of exclusive breast feeding upto 6 month. Conclusion: Breast feeding is an ancient tradition necessary to protect the national treasure the children. Training of health functionaries on the promotion of more appropriate breast feeding practices is very much essential to educate mothers on early initiation of breast feeding, not discarding the colostrum. In rural areas every effort should be made to protect promote and support the already existing practice of breast feeding specially through health services.