A community-based study on breastfeeding practices in the urban area of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh

• Main Authors: Bansal, R. (Author), Kumar, D. (Author), Nasser, K. (Author), Parashar, P. (Author), Sharma, S. (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Radiance Research Academy 2021
• Subjects: Colostrum; Complementary feeding; Exclusive breastfeeding; Pre lacteal feeds
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher

 Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding is very helpful in the reduction of infant mortality and it is also helpful in protecting infants against infectious and non-infectious diseases. Exclusive breastfeeding can play important role in the reduction in infant mortality and can help in achieving health-related sustainable development goals. Various initiatives of health education and social mobilization have been taken by the department of community medicine of a private medical college of Meerut in its urban field practice area. Objective: To find out the prevalence and associated factors of exclusive breastfeeding in urban areas of Meerut. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the field practice area of the urban health training centre (UHTC) among 179 lactating mothers. The data collection was done by predesigned and pre-validated questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and Fisher Exact test were used for statistical analysis. Results: The study findings revealed the initiation of breastfeeding within an hour was practised by 63.7% of mothers. The exclusive breastfeeding was practised by 134 (74.9%) mothers. Pre lacteal feeds & colostrum was given to 22.3% and 78.8% of the children respectively. The complementary feeding at 6 months was started by 76 (42.5%) mothers. Conclusion: The practices of breastfeeding like early initialization of breastfeeding, colostrum feeding, exclusive breastfeeding till 6 months and complementary feeding from 6 months are comparatively better in the study area as compared to breastfeed-ing practices in Uttar Pradesh. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was comparatively lesser in population belonging to upper lower socioeconomic classification. © 2021, Radiance Research Academy. All rights reserved.