Publication:

Does literacy status of mother influence breast feeding practices: experience from a semi urban location in Tamil Nadu, India

Background In spite of regular promotion of breast feeding practices at both National and International level, the proportion of children who are exclusively breast fed during the first 6 months of life is very less. The present study was planned to find out the prevalence of correct breast feeding practices among mothers of 12-23 old children enrolled in Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) centers and to find out its relationship with mother’s literacy status in a semi urban location of Tamil Nadu.

Methods A cross sectional study was done in the ICDS centers. Participants: 127 mothers of 12-23 month old children enrolled in various ICDS centers in the field practice area of Saveetha Medical College.

Methodology Semi structured interviews. Proportion and chi-square were used for analysis.

Results Overall, 19%of the mothers gave pre-lacteal feeds to their babies, 6% of mothers denied colostrums, 12% started complementary feeding before 6 months. Overall literacy status of the mother was associated with better breast feeding practices; however literacy had a complex relation with different aspects of breast feeding.

Conclusions The breast feeding practices were relatively better than reported by other studies in the country. However, still there was a significant gap in correct practices of breast feeding.