A community based study on pattern of breast feeding of under 6 months aged children in slums of an Eastern Industrial City of India

Introduction:Breast feeding is an essential and noble practice.It helps in proper growth of the baby, creates strong bonding with mother and offers immunity and development of brain.Breastfeeding practices are determined by various factors including cultural norms, beliefs, mother’s knowledge and previous experience. These factors operate differently across communities Aims and Objectives:To find out socio-demographic characteristics of the population as well as to ascertain different patterns of breast feeding of under 6 month aged children slums of an eastern industrial city of India. Materials and Methods:Community based cross section study on 192 study subjects whom were chosen by systematic random sampling method and interviewed by a pre designed pre tested questionnaire. Data was analyzed in SPSS 20 software and qualitative data was tested by chi-square test to find out significance at p<0.05 at 95% CI. Results and analysis: 25.5% of the study population were given prelacteal feed. Statistically significant result was found illiterate and daily wage earner mother in regard to prelacteal feed (P<0.05). Colostrum feeding was also low (58.3%). Again those two factors were statistically significant with low colostrum feeding (p<0.05).40.6% study population were initiated breast feeding lately. Low Social class, joint family, illiterate and daily wage earning mother was statistically significant with late initiation of breast feeding (p<0.05). Proportion exclusive breast feeding was very low (27.6%) and was statistically significant with joint family, illiteracy of the mother and daily wage earning mothers (p<0.05) Conclusion:Despite massive campaign, awareness generation problems of illiteracy, low proportion of exclusive breast feeding, late initiation of breast feeding, low colostrum feeding and prelactealfeed are still problem some in slum areas. Some socio cultural and behavioral factors were affecting those feeding patterns.