Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding is defined by World Health Organization (WHO) as practice of feeding only breast milk (including expressed breast milk) and allows the baby to receive vitamins, minerals or medicines and water, breast milk substitutes, other liquids and solid foods are excluded. There are many factors that influence the knowledge regarding exclusive breast feeding which are poorly studied. Hence this study was taken up to estimate the knowledge regarding Breast Feeding and to study the various factors that influence it.

Objectives

1. To assess Knowledge regarding exclusive breast feeding among antenatal mothers attending antenatal clinics in urban slums of Hyderabad.
2. To study the factors associated with exclusive breast feeding among antenatal mothers attending antenatal clinics in urban slums of Hyderabad.

Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted among antenatal woman attending antenatal clinics in urban slums in Hyderabad during August 2015 to January 2016. A sample of 160 was derived and systematic random sampling was done. Taking the awareness as 50%, confidence interval 95% and absolute precision as 8%, sample of 157 (rounded off to 160) was arrived.

The data was collected by the investigator by using a Pre Tested, Semi Structured Questionnaire till the required sample was reached. The average duration of the interview was 30 minutes.  Data entry was done in Microsoft excel 2007 version. Analysis was done by using Epi info version 7.2.1.0.

Results: Majority of the study population 104 (65%) were having knowledge regarding exclusive breast feeding. The knowledge regarding Breast Feeding during diseased conditions like High Fever, Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, Breast Cancer is negligible(<1%).

Age (P=0.05) and order of pregnancy (P<0.0001) were significantly associated with knowledge regarding exclusive breast feeding.

Keywords: Exclusive Breast Feeding, Antenatal mothers, Factors.

1. World Health Organization. Indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices part 1 definitions. Washington DC [USA]: World Health Organization. Dept. of Child and Adolescent Health and Development; 2007.
2. Shravan Kumar, Md Abdul Wassey. A cross-sectional study on effect of initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth on early onset neonatal sepsis. International Journal of Contemporary Medical Research 2016;3(6):1865-1867.
3. World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) India Report 2012.Breast Feeding Promotion Network Of India.
4. Radhakrishnan S, Balamuruga SS. Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practices among rural women in Tamil Nadu. Int J Health Allied Sci 2012;1:64-7.
5. Swetha R, Ravikumar J, Nageswara Rao R. Study of breastfeeding practices in coastal region of South India: a cross sectional study. Int J Contemp Pediatr 2014;1:74-8.
6. District Level Household and Facility Survey -4 State Fact Sheet Andhra Pradesh (2012-13) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
7. Ampeire Isaac Petit. Perception And Knowledge On Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Women Attending Antenatal And Postnatal Clinics.A Study From Mbarara Hospital – Uganda, August 2008.
8. Pandey D, Sardana P, Saxena A, Dogra L,Coondoo A, Kamath A (2015) Awareness and Attitude towards Breastfeeding among Two Generations of Indian Women: A Comparative Study. PLoS ONE 10(5): e0126575. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0126575.
9. World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) India Report 2012.Breast Feeding Promotion Network Of India.
10. World Health Organization Update on Breast Feeding and Tuberculosis. Division of child health and development. No 23, 1998.
11. Jessica R. Jones, Michael D. Kogan, Gopal K. Singh, Deborah L. Dee, Laurence M. Grummer-Strawn. Factors Associated With Exclusive Breastfeeding in the United States. Pediatrics 2011;128;1117; originally published online November 28, 2011; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2011-0841.
12. U O Uchendu, A N Ikefuna, I J Emodi. Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding among mothers seen at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital. SAJCH MAY 2009 VOL. 3 NO. 1 : 14-19.
13. Sharanya B. Shetty, Sudarshan Shetty K. KAP Study Of Factors Promoting Breastfeeding In Nursing Mothers And Pregnant Women. NUJHS Vol. 3, No.3, September 2013,:34-37.ISSN 2249-7110
14. Jain Suksham, Singla Manju, Chawla Deepak. Factors For Cessations Of Exclusive Breast Feeding At End Of 6 Weeks In Healthy Term And Late Preterm Neonates Born In A Hospital Set Up In North India. National Journal of Community Medicine Vol 3 Issue 2 April-June 2012:274-278.

Dr Desham. C

Senior Resident, Community Medicine Department, Osmania Medical College

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.