Abstract
The present study highlights the need for due emphasis on initiation of breast feeding of newborn infants over other traditional prelacteal newborn feeds. Knowledge, attitudes and newborn feeding practices amongst 702 mothers with urban background was recorded. Though 83.5% of mothers had attended the antenatal clinics, only 13.24% had been given breast feeding advice at the antenatal clinics. It is a cause of concern that only 26.35% had initiated the feeding by breast milk and only 16% had given colostrum. A large number of newborns were fed with finger tips and other unhygienic methods. However, most (95.01%) mothers had started breast feeding their newborns before discharge from hospital.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Awasthi NN, Kaushik A, Mathur BD. Feeding and rearing practices in rural area in Jhansi, Bundelkhand.Indian J Pediatr 1983,50: 33–37
Bhandari NR, Patel GS. Dietary and weaning habits of infants of various socio-economic groups.Indian Pediatr 1973,10: 233–238
Gopujkar AV, Choudhuri SN, Ramaswami MA, Gore MS and Gopalan C. An extract of Reports on infant feeding practices — UNICEF project 1984
Agarwal DK, Agarwal KN, Khare BB. S dy in current status of infant and childhood feeding practices.Indian Pediatr 1985,22: 716
Gopalan C. An extract of the Report on infant feeding practices by Nutrition Foundation of India 1984
Kushwaha KP, Mathur GP, Prakash O. Infant feeding practices of peri-urban areas of Gorakhpur.Indian Pediatr 1987,24: 899–901
Bahl, Kaushal RK. Infant rearing practices and beliefs in rural inhabitants of Himachal Pradesh.Indian Pediatr 1987,24: 903–906
Chhabra S, Shende A. Breast feeding and reproductive behaviou of rural women.J Obstet Gynaecol of India 1987,37: 782–788
Ghosh S, Gidwani S, Mittal SK, Verma RK. Socio-cultural factors affecting breast feeding and other infant feeding practices in an urban community.Indian Pediatr 1976,13: 827–832
Kumari S, Pruthi PK, Mehra R, Sehgal H. Breast feeding: Physical growth during infancy.Indian J Pediatr 1985,52: 71–73
Narayanan I, Gujral VV. Infant feeding practices in an urban community.Arch Child Health 1980,22: 7–15
Gurdeva RK, Gargye AK, et al. Infant feeding patterns in Rewa.Indian J Pediatr 1982,49: 815–818
Mukherjee PS. Feeding of children in urban West Bengal, Calcutta.Indian J Pediatr 1959,26: 467–476
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kumari, S., Saili, A., Jain, S. et al. Maternal attitude and practices in initiation of newborn feeding. Indian J Pediatr 55, 905–911 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02727824
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02727824