Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Breast milk provides nutritional, immunological, behavioral, and economic benefits
and helps to build mother‑infant bonding. Antenatal mothers need to be sufficiently aware about the
benefits of breastfeeding.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to assess the awareness and perception of breastfeeding
among antenatal mothers and to find out any association between sociodemographic factors and
breastfeeding awareness.
METHODOLOGY: A cross‑sectional study was conducted among 250 antenatal women residing in the
urban slums of field‑practice area of urban health and training center; using a predesigned, pretested,
semi‑structured interview schedule. Antenatal checkup followed by one to one counseling for the
women regarding breastfeeding was provided. Data were represented by frequencies, proportions,
and associations using Chi‑square, and the P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: Most (55.6%) of the women were in the age group of 18–24 years. The mean age at
marriage was 19.2 ± 2.5 years. 81.2% of them were Hindus, 13.2% had adequate, 49.6% had
moderately adequate, whereas 37.2% women had inadequate awareness about breastfeeding.
About 100% intended to breastfeed their children, but only 64% said that they intended to exclusively
breastfeed. 66.4% knew about the importance of colostrum. Age‑group, religion, literacy, occupation,
type of family, gravida, and number of antenatal visits showed highly significant (P < 0.001) association
with awareness of breastfeeding.
CONCLUSION: Nearly one‑third of the antenatal mothers lacked awareness on breastfeeding
practices. Although all intended to breastfeed, still only 64% knew about exclusive breastfeeding.
These gaps need to be addressed by awareness generation activities during antenatal counseling.
Keywords
Medicine. 23rd ed. Bhanot; 2015;530
2. Shaili V, Parul S, Kandpal SD, Jayanti S, Anurag S, Vipul N.
Acommunity based study on breastfeeding practices in a rural area
of Uttarakhand. Natl J Community Med 2012;3:283‑7. Available
from: http://www.njcmindia.org/uploads/3‑2_283‑287.pdf.
[Last accessed on 2017 Jun 03].
3. De M, Taraphdar P, Paul S. Awareness of breast feeding among
mothers attending antenatal OPD of NRS medical college.IOSR J
of Dent and Med Sci 2016;15:3‑8. [Doi: 10.9790/0853‑152120308].
4. Kumar A, Unnikrishnan B, Rekha T, Mithra P, Kumar N,
Kulkarni V, et al. Awareness and attitude regarding breastfeeding
and immunization practices among primigravida attendinga tertiary care hospital in Southern India. J Clin Diagn Res
2015;9:LC01‑5.
5. International Institute for Population Sciences. National Family
Health Survey‑4 India Factsheet 2015‑2016; 2016.
6. Indian Institute for Population Sciences. National Family Health
Survey 4: State Fact Sheet, Odisha; 2015. p. 1‑6.
7. Premlata M, Nupur H, Aditi B, Anuradha S, Priyanka M.
Knowledge, attitude and practice of breast feeding at a tertiary care
centre in Rajasthan. Scholars Academic Jour of Biosci 2014;2:714‑8.
8. Sample Registration System (SRS BULLETIN). Vol. 50. 2016.
9. Girish HO, Acharya A, Kumar A, Venugopalan PP,
Sarada PrabhakaranRK. Knowledge and practices of breastfeeding
among ante‑natal mothers at a teaching hospital at Kannur,
Kerala: A cross‑sectional study. Jour of Evolution of Med and
Dent Sci 2013;2:8996‑9001.
10. Behera D, Pillai AK. Intention toward optimal breastfeeding
among expecting mothers in angul district of Odisha, India. Indian
J Public Health 2016;60:81‑5.
11. DhandapanyG, BethouA, ArunagirinathanA, AnanthakrishnanS.
Antenatal counseling on breastfeeding – Is it adequate? A
descriptive study from Pondicherry, India. Int Breastfeed J
2008;3:5.