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

Abstract

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.