Timely initiation of breast-feeding is critical to every infant's nutritional growth and development. There are various factors which influence successful breastfeeding in their own way. The Indian culture is diverse and there is an important role of social support by the near and dear ones of the breastfeeding mother to help her during lactation.

Material & Methods: 100 women attending OBGYN OPD in a tertiary hospital and medical college from June 2016 to December 2016. Pearsons’s correlation was used to calculate the association between knowledge, attitude, practices and role of social support.

Results: In our study, 53% women knew that exclusive breastfeeding is for 6 months.  Majority (96%) of the women knew that Colostrum is important to the baby and that it should be given. Only 41% had knowledge or had heard of mother support groups. Out of 39% women who gave their child top feeds revealed that the idea was advised to them by relatives (35%). Breastfeeding was discussed with 41% women antenatally, only 22% postnatally while 37% revealed that it was not discussed at all. From our study we understood that upon questioned 61% of the women feel that they needed help from family and friends to make breastfeeding easier.

Conclusion: It is essential to ensure that the healthcare system provides efficient antenatal and postnatal breastfeeding education and support. Mothers should be made aware of mother support groups which hold key to promoting maternal and child health. The findings of our study will help regularise and bring about change in the health care system for promoting breastfeeding.

Keywords: Breastfeeding, Social support for breastfeeding, breastfeeding practises., KAP and SS in breastfeeding, Importance of breastfeeding

1. Natasha Maharaj and Mridula Bandyopa-dhyay. Breastfeeding practices of ethnic Indian immigrant women in Melbourne, Australia. Int Breastfeed J. Dec 2013; 8: 17.
2. Reissland N, Burghart R. The quality of a mother’s milk and the health of her child: beliefs and practices of the women of Mithila. Soc Sci Med. 1998;8:461–469
3. Global Database on Breastfeeding (2000–2006): Child Info monitoring the situation of children and women. [http://www.childinfo.org/breastfeeding_countrydata.php]. Date accessed 07 May 2013.
4. Rasheed S, Siddiqui I, Baig LA. Decline in breastfeeding, who is to be blamed? A study of knowledge, attitude and practice of breastf-eeding amongst nurses. J Pak Med Assoc. 2000;8:8–11.
5. Agnew, T., Gilmore, J. and Sullivan, P. (1997). A Multicultural Perspective of Breastfeeding in Canada. Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Canada.
6. Cattaneo A, Ronfani L, Burmaz T, et al. Infant feeding and cost of health care: a cohort study. Acta Paediatr 2006;95:540–6.
7. Viadro C et al (2008) Mothers' Support Groups in Ethiopia: A Peer Support Model to Address the Needs of Women Living with HIV. Chapel Hill, NC: Intra Health
8. Poreddi Vijayalakshmi, (1) Susheela T, (2) Mythili D (3) Knowledge, attitudes, and breast feeding practices of postnatal mothers: A cross sectional survey. International Journal of Health Sciences, Qassim University, Vol. 9, No. 4 (Oct-Dec 2015)
9. Odom EC, Li R, Scanlon KS, Perrine CG, Grummer-Strawn L. Reasons for earlier than desired cessation of breastfeeding. Pediatrics. 2013 Mar;131(3):e726-32.
10. Mogre, V., Dery, M. and Gaa, P.K. (2016) Knowledge, Attitudes and Determinants of Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice among Ghanaian Rural Lactating Mothers. International Breastfeeding Journal, 11, 1-8.
11. Krouse AM. The family management of breastfeeding low birth weight infants. J Hum Lact. 2002; 18(2):155-65.
12. Chaudhary RN, Shah T, Raja S. Knowledge and practice of mothers regarding breastfeeding: a hospital based study. Health Renaissance, 2011; 9:194-200.
13. Choudhary AK, Bankwar V. Knowledge regarding breastfeeding and factors associated with its practice among postnatal mothers in central India. Int J Med Sci Public Health. 2015;4(7):973-6.

Sabrina Mhapankar

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.