Breastfeeding Practices among Urban Mothers of Central Kerala, India: A Cross-Sectional Study
Background: The practice of breastfeeding is vital in child nutrition and morbidity. The authors aimed to determine breastfeeding practices and factors related to Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) among mothers with children aged six months to 2 years in an urban area of Thrissur district, Kerala, India...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Community Health Research |
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| Online Access: | http://jhr.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-937-en.pdf |
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| author | Fathimathusalma Othayoth Prabhakumari Chellamma Sajna Mathumkunnath Vijayan Jackson Kulampallil Sebastian Rini Raveendran |
| author_facet | Fathimathusalma Othayoth Prabhakumari Chellamma Sajna Mathumkunnath Vijayan Jackson Kulampallil Sebastian Rini Raveendran |
| author_sort | Fathimathusalma Othayoth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The practice of breastfeeding is vital in child nutrition and morbidity. The authors aimed to determine breastfeeding practices and factors related to Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) among mothers with children aged six months to 2 years in an urban area of Thrissur district, Kerala, India.
Methods: This was a community-based and cross-sectional study conducted on 339 mothers using cluster sampling in 2016 for one year in the urban area of Thrissur district, Kerala. Details regarding sociodemographic factors, obstetric history, child-related data and breastfeeding practices were collected from mothers using a pretested and semi-structured questionnaire. Analyses were done using SPSS16 and Epi Info 7.
Results: The mean age of study population was 27.21 ± 4.27. 223 mothers (65.78 %, 95% CI = 60.43-70.77) initiated breastfeeding within 1 hour, and prelacteal feeding was observed in 25 cases (7.37%, 95% CI = 4.92-10.83). 99.71% practiced feeding on demand, and 30.97% (95% CI = 26.15- 36.24) of children were exclusively breastfed up to 6 months with mean duration of 3.95± 1.79 months. The mean age at which complementary feeding started was 4.83 ± 1.32 months. Cultural beliefs, mothers' employment, and problems during breastfeeding were significant predictors of EBF for up to 6months.
Conclusion: Despite high educational status and good antenatal care among the study population, breastfeeding practices were not carried out at the recommended level. Breastfeeding was initiated within 1 hour of delivery by 2/3rd ,and 1/3rd of the children were exclusively breastfed up to 6 months. Cultural beliefs and mothers' employment were factors associated with EBF. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dcd627c30e9147be818f23e93200f2e4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2322-5688 2345-2609 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Community Health Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-dcd627c30e9147be818f23e93200f2e42025-08-20T03:25:12ZengShahid Sadoughi University of Medical SciencesJournal of Community Health Research2322-56882345-26092024-01-011312231Breastfeeding Practices among Urban Mothers of Central Kerala, India: A Cross-Sectional StudyFathimathusalma Othayoth0Prabhakumari Chellamma1Sajna Mathumkunnath Vijayan2Jackson Kulampallil Sebastian3Rini Raveendran4 Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala, India Department of Community Medicine, Travancore Medical College, Kollam, Kerala, India Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Idukki, Kerala, India Department of General Surgery, Government Medical College, Wayanad, Kerala, India Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Thrissur, Kerala, India Background: The practice of breastfeeding is vital in child nutrition and morbidity. The authors aimed to determine breastfeeding practices and factors related to Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) among mothers with children aged six months to 2 years in an urban area of Thrissur district, Kerala, India. Methods: This was a community-based and cross-sectional study conducted on 339 mothers using cluster sampling in 2016 for one year in the urban area of Thrissur district, Kerala. Details regarding sociodemographic factors, obstetric history, child-related data and breastfeeding practices were collected from mothers using a pretested and semi-structured questionnaire. Analyses were done using SPSS16 and Epi Info 7. Results: The mean age of study population was 27.21 ± 4.27. 223 mothers (65.78 %, 95% CI = 60.43-70.77) initiated breastfeeding within 1 hour, and prelacteal feeding was observed in 25 cases (7.37%, 95% CI = 4.92-10.83). 99.71% practiced feeding on demand, and 30.97% (95% CI = 26.15- 36.24) of children were exclusively breastfed up to 6 months with mean duration of 3.95± 1.79 months. The mean age at which complementary feeding started was 4.83 ± 1.32 months. Cultural beliefs, mothers' employment, and problems during breastfeeding were significant predictors of EBF for up to 6months. Conclusion: Despite high educational status and good antenatal care among the study population, breastfeeding practices were not carried out at the recommended level. Breastfeeding was initiated within 1 hour of delivery by 2/3rd ,and 1/3rd of the children were exclusively breastfed up to 6 months. Cultural beliefs and mothers' employment were factors associated with EBF.http://jhr.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-937-en.pdfbreastfeeding practicesexclusive breastfeedingbreastfedprelacteal feedingcentral kerala. |
| spellingShingle | Fathimathusalma Othayoth Prabhakumari Chellamma Sajna Mathumkunnath Vijayan Jackson Kulampallil Sebastian Rini Raveendran Breastfeeding Practices among Urban Mothers of Central Kerala, India: A Cross-Sectional Study Journal of Community Health Research breastfeeding practices exclusive breastfeeding breastfed prelacteal feeding central kerala. |
| title | Breastfeeding Practices among Urban Mothers of Central Kerala, India: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Breastfeeding Practices among Urban Mothers of Central Kerala, India: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Breastfeeding Practices among Urban Mothers of Central Kerala, India: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Breastfeeding Practices among Urban Mothers of Central Kerala, India: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Breastfeeding Practices among Urban Mothers of Central Kerala, India: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | breastfeeding practices among urban mothers of central kerala india a cross sectional study |
| topic | breastfeeding practices exclusive breastfeeding breastfed prelacteal feeding central kerala. |
| url | http://jhr.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-937-en.pdf |
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