Background: Breastfeeding is the optimal method of providing ideal food for the health, growth and development of infants. It has been estimated that 1.3 million deaths could be prevented each year if babies were exclusively breastfed from birth for the first six months. The benefits of exclusive breastfeeding on child survival, growth, and development are well documented. Unfortunately not every woman or mother is aware about the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding.

Aims: To assess the awareness of exclusive breastfeeding among the women of reproductive age group in urban slum areas of Jorhat town.

Materials and Methods: A Community based cross sectional study was conducted among the women of reproductive age group residing in the urban slums of Jorhat. Using simple random sampling technique total 90 eligible subjects were selected for our study and they were interviewed using a pre-tested pre-designed schedule.

Results: Out of the 90 respondents, 95.56% have heard about exclusive breastfeeding. Health worker (45.56%) found to be the most common source of information. According to 88.9% study subjects the duration of exclusive breastfeeding is 6 months and for 58.9% study subject exclusive breastfeeding includes only mother’s milk. The time of initiation of breastfeeding according to 60% study subjects is within one hour after birth and colostrum should be fed according to 68.9% study subjects.

Conclusion: The results shows that majority of the respondent were aware about exclusive breastfeeding but only 47.8% has correct knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding and so health education of the population is required.

Keywords: Exclusive Breastfeeding, Awareness, Urban, Slum.

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Prof (Dr) Bishnu Ram Das

Dept. of Community Medicine, Jorhat Medical College, Jorhat

Phone Number: +919435020324, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.