Background: Breast feeding is the best documented feed for the infant during the initial six months of life. It is essential for child’s optimal growth and development and also reduces the incidence of diarrhoea and pneumonia among infants. All around the world, breast feeding is associated with myths, superstitions and various cultural, religious and traditional practices, especially in poor developing countries. Poor feeding during early life increases risk of morbidity and mortality in later years and affects cognitive functioning as well.

Methodology: A community based cross sectional study was conducted from June 2016 to December 2016 in which a total of 200 mothers who had given birth within last one year were selected by systematic sampling method. The mothers were interviewed regarding breast feeding practices of their infants using structured pre tested questionnaire. Data regarding socio- demographic profile, birth history of the child and breast feeding practices was also collected.

Results: In the study, mean age of the participants was 28.66 years, 75% were illiterate, 73% belonged to joint families and 29% of the infants belonged to the age group of 3-6 months. The prevalence of exclusively breast fed infants was 38.5% and the most common reason for such a low percentage of exclusively breastfed infants was usage of pre-lacteal feed (94.3%).

Conclusion: The prevalence of exclusively breast fed infants was low in the study area which could be attributed to the use of prelacteal feed soon after the birth of the child. The reason for the use of prelacteal feed at the time of the birth of the child is because of the prevalent socio religious factors in the area.

Keywords: Recently delivered women, exclusive breastfeeding, pre-lacteal feeds, socio religious factors.

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Dr Mohsina Mukhtar

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