ASSESSMENT OF INFANT FEEDING PRACTICES AMONG WORKING MOTHERS & THEIR CORRELATES

Abstract

Introduction: Optimal nutrition during first two years of life is crucial for the survival, healthy growth, and development of infants and young children. Working women in India comprise a major constituent of mothers whose feeding decisions impact the status of their child health. So, this study focused on working women to assess IYCF practices among respondents as per WHO and to correlates the characteristics of respondent’s breast-feeding practices.

Material & Methods: This study was carried out by the Department of Pediatrics, Subharti Medical College, Meerut, UP. It involved working mothers of children of age 0-24 months visited for vaccination. A single face-to-face interview was done after informed consent and semi‑structured questionnaire based on the standard questionnaire on IYCF practices given by WHO.

Results: In our study, the majority of the mothers are in the age group of 20-24 years (37.5%) and 25-29 years (25%) and schooled up to middle and high school, 23.75% and 7. 23% respectively. 60% have adhered to exclusive breastfeeding practices although one-fourth of the participants initiated breastfeeding a day after childbirth. Only 56.6% of mothers were continue to breast fed their child while 19% of the participants gave mixed feed to their children, 11% fed on cow’s milk and 10% women gave powder milk in place of mother milk. Proper feeding practices is significantly associated with increasing age, literacy status and social support.

Conclusion: There is a gap of optimal feeding behavior among working mothers in studied population and only 56.6% of mothers were continue to breast fed their child. There is a pressing need to facilitate successful implementation of national guidelines. Giving safe and friendly place for feeding at working area holds promise as an effective intervention to ensure healthier feeding practices.