Knowledge on Breast Feeding among mothers of toddlers in selected Dadra and Nagar Haveli area.

 

Sharma Priya¹*, Malik Sujeeta²

¹Assistant Professor, Shri Vinoba Bhave College of Nursing, Silvassa.

²M.Sc Nursing Student, Shri Vinoba Bhave College of Nursing, Silvassa.

 

ABSTRACT:

Background: Breast feeding, the most natural way of infant feeding to satisfy nutritional, metabolic and psychological needs of the baby. Objectives: To assess the knowledge of breast feeding among mothers who have child 1 to 3 years age and to determine the association between socio-demographic variables with their knowledge. Materials and Method: Community based descriptive study was conducted in village, Dadra and Nagar Haveli district. Pre-tested structured Performa used to collect information from 20 mothers having 1 to 3 years child during study period by utilizing personal interview method. Statistical Analysis: Demographic variable frequency percentage distribution, knowledge scoring and statistical association was analyzed by using chi-square test. Results: Out of 20 mothers, 10(50%) mothers had moderate knowledge about breast-feeding whereas only 3% respondents have good knowledge regarding breast feeding. There was no association between demographic variables and knowledge regarding breast feeding. Conclusion: Knowledge of breast feeding among mothers having child 1 to 3 years age was of moderate level.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Breast feeding is the most natural way of infant feeding to satisfy nutritional, metabolic and psychological needs of the baby¹. A child who is breast fed has greater chances of survival than a child artificially fed. Breast feeding significantly reduces the risk of death especially from diarrhea and pneumonia in infants compared to formula fed babies². It also protects the infant from early malnutrition and some infections³. Breast feeding has shown to ensure quality survival, the risk of adult onset of disease like diabetes, allergic disorders like asthma, CAD, hypertension, celiac diseases, lymphoma and cataract is substantially reduced in later life⁴. Breast feeding has advantage to both the baby and the mother. Owing to the advantages of the breast milk to the infants, WHO in 1993 took efforts to improve infant and young child nutrition by promoting breast feeding⁵. WHO and UNICEF created and promoted Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in 1991, is to ensure that all maternity services whether free standing or in a hospital, becomes centers of breastfeeding support. According to breast feeding promotion network of India only 10% of hospitals and maternity facilities in India had BFHI status in 2005⁶. This reflects the fact that more effort is needed to make all existing hospitals “Baby Friendly”. If appropriate measures are undertaken to strengthen training in breast feeding counseling and the number of trained professional counselor at all level is increased, exclusive breast feeding might become a social norm^7,8. The government of India launched various national health programmes through vertical and horizontal health administration to reduce the infant, child mortality and morbidity and malnutrition^9,10. The present study was conducted in a rural area of Dadra and Nagar Haveli district to assess the awareness regarding breast feeding knowledge among the mother having 1 to 3 years children in Kudacha village.

 

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Descriptive study was conducted in Kudacha village of Dadra Nagar Haveli. Kudacha Village is a tribal area with population in Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Union Territory). Samples were selected by purposive sampling during year 2017 and all mothers who have child between 1 to 3 years of age were included as study population. After verbal consent from each study respondents after inclusion and exclusion criteria, data was collected from 20 study subjects who were participated in study. Questionnaire method was used to collect data from study respondents by utilizing structured questionnaire that includes demographic characteristics as well as knowledge variables related to breast feeding. The respondent with right or correct answer was marked as knowledge score ‘1’and with don’t know or wrong scored as ‘0’ for variables under study.

 

The maximum and minimum knowledge score was obtained and respondents were categorized into poor, moderate, good and excellent knowledge quality. Knowledge variable and demographic characteristics frequency percentage distribution of study subjects were done and Chi-square test applied to find out statistical association between knowledge and demographic characteristics.

 

RESULTS:

The table I shows, maximum 10 (50%) respondents were belonged to age group 30-36 years, 20(100%) Hindu by religion, 9 (45%) completed their primary & middle level of education. However, 9 (45%) respondents were having one child.

 

 

 

Table I: Distribution of respondents according to demographic profile. (N=20)

CHARACTERISTICS	CATEGORY	FREQUENCY	PERCENTAGE
Age group (years)	16 – 22	0	0 %
	23 – 29	9	45 %
	30 – 36	10	50 %
	37 and above	1	5 %
Education	No Formal Education	1	5 %
	Primary to Middle Education	9	45 %
	Secondary to High. Secondary	7	35 %
	Graduation and Above	3	15 %
Number of child	First	9	45 %
	Second	9	45 %
	Third	2	10 %
	Fourth	0	0 %
Religion	Hindu	20	100 %
	Muslim	0	0 %
	Sikh	0	0 %
	Christian	0	0 %

 

 

 

Table no II depicts, maximum 10(50%) respondents had moderate knowledge about breast-feeding whereas only 3% respondents have good knowledge regarding breast feeding.

 

 

 

 

Table II: Knowledge category distribution of respondents

Question Score	Frequency	Percentage	Performance
0-7	7	35%	Poor
8-12	10	50%	Moderate
13-16	3	15%	Good
17-20	0	0%	Excellent

 

 

Table III: Association between demographic characteristics and knowledge.

Variables	>=m	<=m	Chi square value	Df
Age in years: a)       Less than 18 years b)       19-24 years c)       25-29 years d)       More than 30 years	0 6 2 1	0 3 8 0	5.45	3
Number of child: a)       First b)       Second c)       Third d)       Fourth	6 6 2 0	3 3 0 0	0.94	3
Education: a)       No Formal Education b)       Primary to Middle Education c)       Secondary to High. Secondary d)       Graduation and Above	3 2 2 2	0 5 5 1	5.45	3

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The authors are grateful to the authorities of Shri Vinoba Bhave College of Nursing, Silvassa for the facilities.

 

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

 

REFERENCES:

1.       Victora C G (1989). Infant feeding and deaths due to diarrhoea_ case control study. Am J Epidemiol,129,1032-41.PMid:2705424

2.       Park K. Preventive and Social Medicine Text Book, 2015. 23rd edition, M/s Banarsidas Bhanot Publisher. Jabalpur, India.

3.       Dr.Dadhich JP (2009). Report of assessment of status of IYCF: practice, policy and program: achievements and gaps.

4.       Baride JP, Kulkarni AP. Text Book of Community Medicine.2006.3rd edition, Vora Medical Pub, Mumbai.

5.       Mathai J. (1983). The Brazilians national breast-feeding programme. Assign child, 6,225-45.

6.       www.unicef.org/programme/breastfeeding/baby .htm. Accessed on 21.11.2010.

7.       Kishore S S (2000). Breast feeding knowledge and practice among mothers in a rural population in India: community based survey. Journal of tropical paediatrics, 55(3), 183-188. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/tropej/fmn110 PMid:19074494

8.       Wagner et al (2006).The role of personality and other factors in mother’s decision to initiate breast feeding. J Hum Lact, 22:16-26.http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0890334405283624 PMid:16467284

9.       Borade A. (2008). Maternal knowledge and participation about breast-feeding and factors influencing it. J Ped child health care.

10.      Singh B. (2010). Knowledge, attitude and practice of breast feeding – a case study. European J Scientific Research, 40(3), 404-422.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Received on 07.11.2017       Modified on 05.01.2018

Accepted on 16.04.2018      ©A&V Publications All right reserved