Breastfeeding knowledge and practices in New Delhi, India

Introduction: Appropriate breastfeeding practices are important for decreasing low birthweight and infant mortality. Despite significant media and community efforts by various organisations, India continues to have sub-optimal rates of breastfeeding. Research Aim: This study aimed at describing breastfeeding knowledge and practices in a low-income urban community of Dabri village, New Delhi. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2013 and January 2014 among 157 mothers with children aged 0 through 5 years of age receiving paediatric care at the Dabri Women and Children’s Government Hospital. The participants were asked 21 semi-structured questions to understand breastfeeding knowledge and practices during the first six months of their child’s life. Results: While awareness and uptake of exclusive breastfeeding in Dabri, New Delhi was high (72.6%), mothers exhibited variability whether feeding their child on-demand or with a routine as well as in terms of duration. Less than half (49.6%) of women breastfed in the first hour of their delivery, with delays in initiation of breastfeeding associated with C-sections and lower educational attainment. Nearly 17% of women reported introducing solid foods or liquids into their child’s diet prior to 6 months of age. Principal channels through which breastfeeding information was received included their mother/ family member (38.9%), doctor (35.0%), as well as television and online media (19%). Conclusion: Future campaigns to promote breastfeeding should build knowledge of health workers, utilise media-based campaigns, help mothers overcome key barriers to best breastfeeding practices, and introduce tools to support greater maternal self-efficacy for improved practices.

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Work Title Breastfeeding knowledge and practices in New Delhi, India
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Open Access
Creators
  1. Priya Shankar
  2. Stephen Kodish
  3. Farah Meraj Khanam
  4. Sheila Isanaka
Keyword
  1. Breastfeeding
  2. Maternal
  3. Child Health
  4. Nutrition
  5. South Asia
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Postgraduate Journal of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Publication Date April 2, 2022
Related URLs
Deposited June 26, 2023

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  • Created
  • Added Shankar__Kodish__Khanam__Iskanaka_Pediatrics_Medicine_2022.pdf
  • Added Creator Priya Shankar
  • Added Creator Stephen Kodish
  • Added Creator Farah Meraj Khanam
  • Added Creator Sheila Isanaka
  • Published
  • Updated Keyword, Description, Related URLs, and 1 more Show Changes
    Keyword
    • Breastfeeding, Maternal, Child Health, Nutrition, South Asia
    Description
    • Introduction: Appropriate breastfeeding practices are important for decreasing low birthweight and infant mortality. Despite significant media and community efforts by various organisations, India continues to have sub-optimal rates of breastfeeding.Research Aim: This study aimed at describing breastfeeding knowledge and practices in a low-income urban community of Dabri village, New Delhi.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2013 and January 2014 among 157 mothers with children aged 0 through 5 years of age receiving paediatric care at the Dabri Women and Children’s Government Hospital. The participants were asked 21 semi-structured questions to understand breastfeeding knowledge and practices during the first six months of their child’s life.Results: While awareness and uptake of exclusive breastfeeding in Dabri, New Delhi was high (72.6%), mothers exhibited variability whether feeding their child on-demand or with a routine as well as in terms of duration. Less than half (49.6%) of women breastfed in the first hour of their delivery, with delays in initiation of breastfeeding associated with C-sections and lower educational attainment. Nearly 17% of women reported introducing solid foods or liquids into their child’s diet prior to 6 months of age. Principal channels through which breastfeeding information was received included their mother/ family member (38.9%), doctor (35.0%), as well as television and online media (19%).Conclusion: Future campaigns to promote breastfeeding should build knowledge of health workers, utilise media-based campaigns, help mothers overcome key barriers to best breastfeeding practices, and introduce tools to support greater maternal self-efficacy for improved practices.
    • Introduction: Appropriate breastfeeding practices are important for decreasing low birthweight and infant mortality. Despite significant media and community efforts by various organisations, India continues to have sub-optimal rates of breastfeeding. Research Aim: This study aimed at describing breastfeeding knowledge and practices in a low-income urban community of Dabri village, New Delhi. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2013 and January 2014 among 157 mothers with children aged 0 through 5 years of age receiving paediatric care at the Dabri Women and Children’s Government Hospital. The participants were asked 21 semi-structured questions to understand breastfeeding knowledge and practices during the first six months of their child’s life. Results: While awareness and uptake of exclusive breastfeeding in Dabri, New Delhi was high (72.6%), mothers exhibited variability whether feeding their child on-demand or with a routine as well as in terms of duration. Less than half (49.6%) of women breastfed in the first hour of their delivery, with delays in initiation of breastfeeding associated with C-sections and lower educational attainment. Nearly 17% of women reported introducing solid foods or liquids into their child’s diet prior to 6 months of age. Principal channels through which breastfeeding information was received included their mother/ family member (38.9%), doctor (35.0%), as well as television and online media (19%). Conclusion: Future campaigns to promote breastfeeding should build knowledge of health workers, utilise media-based campaigns, help mothers overcome key barriers to best breastfeeding practices, and introduce tools to support greater maternal self-efficacy for improved practices.
    Related URLs
    • http://medical.advancedresearchpublications.com/index.php/PJPediatricsAdolescentMedicine/article/view/827
    Publication Date
    • 2022-01-01
    • 2022-04-02
  • Updated