Publication:

Study on knowledge, attitude and practice about breast feeding and complementary feeding among the mothers attending health camp

Background Malnutrition among under 5 children is a major public health concern in India, sub-optimal feeding and inadequate knowledge of mothers on optimal child feeding practice not only increases the risk of infections and malnutrition but also considered as an important determinant of under-5 children mortality.

Objective Assess knowledge, attitude and practice on breastfeeding, and complementary feeding among mothers with the children under-2 years of age attending the health camp.

Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on all the mothers with the children under 2 years of age attending the health camp at Shri B. M. Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Center, Vijayapura. A verbal consent was taken and pre structured questionnaire was used to assess knowledge, attitude and practice on breastfeeding and complementary feeding in the mother attending the health camp.

Results In the present study, only 42.1% of the mothers had practiced early initiation breastfeeding and only 38.3% of mothers had practice exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months. 36% of the mothers had given prelactial feeds, 62.8% of mothers had fed their children with colostrum and timely initiation of complementary feeding was practiced only among 18.2% of mothers.

Conclusions This study shows inadequate knowledge among mothers regarding infant and young child feeding methods and faulty child feeding practices were followed by mothers.