Background: Breast milk is natural, economical and biological fluid considered as ideal nutrition for infants. World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends exclusive breast feeding (breast milk only, no water or other fluids or solids) for six months. Yet the effective and successful breast feeding rates have been low for decades. In developing countries like India, several factors like religion, educational status of mother, residence, customs, economical status of the family etc affect the breast feeding patterns and practices.

Aim & Objectives: The aim of this work was to compare and evaluate the role of maternal knowledge, demographic, cultural and social factors in breast feeding pattern and practices among rural and urban mothers. This may help the policy makers and health service providers in future.

Materials & Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in convenient places of western Odisha. The period of the study was from March 2017 to February 2018. Total of 930 mothers were included in the study, out of which 480 were from rural and 450 from urban communities. Mothers were included in the study groups after interview. They were provided to fillup a pretested questionnaire. Datas were collected regarding demographic, socio-economical factors which may affect the breast feeding patterns and practices among mothers in rural and urban communities.

Result: In the present study, 45.8% of rural mothers and 16.8% of urban mothers were fully employed, although most of the mothers in both the communities were housewives and belonged to Hindu religion. About 56% (252) of mothers in urban area had given colostrums to their infants as compared to that of 40.6% (195) in rural area.

Conclusion: Infant feeding practices are better in urban area than the rural area. However the rate of effective and successful breastfeeding are low in both the communities.

Keywords: Breast milk, Breast feeding practices, colostrums, rural area.

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Dr Sitanshu Kumar Meher

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