Syed Esam Mahmood|Anurag Srivastava|Ved Prakash Shrotriya|Payal Mishra
Infant feeding practices in the rural population of north India
M.J.P. Rohilkhand University|Institute of Medical Sciences|Institute of Medical Sciences|Institute of Medical Sciences
breastfeeding one important determinants child survival birth spacing prevention childhood infections beneficial effects breastfeeding depend initiation duration age breastfed child weaned breastfeeding practices vary among different regions communitiesto assess pattern infant feeding relation certain practices maternity newborn care assess knowledge mothers advantages exclusive breastfeedingthe crosssectional study carried randomly selected villages bhojipura block bareilly district uttar pradesh total 123 women delivered within last year interviewed housetohouse survey study instrument used collect data chi square test regression analysis used analyze datamost mothers aged less 30 years 7804 hindus 739 illiterate 699 belonged lower socioeconomic class 975 majority housewives 991 multiparous 682 initiated breastfeeding 788 within 24 hours delivery 154 infants receive colostrum 228 infants exclusively breastfed ghutti water mixed honey herbs boiled water tea animal milk commonly used prelacteal feeds 472 respondents aware benefits exclusive breastfeeding one quarter mothers started complementary feeding child six months old half deliveries taken place home quarter females three antenatal visits pregnancy birth weight majority 78 newborns measured majority 699 mothers receive advice child feeding multivariate logistic regression analysis showed maternity newborn care variables significant association exclusive breastfeedingdespite higher rates early initiation breastfeeding exclusive breastfeeding awareness benefits exclusive breastfeeding low indicates need promote awareness correct method infant feeding care newborn creating awareness advantages exclusive breastfeeding strengthen support common practice rural communities avoid early introduction complementary foods sociocultural reasons