SOCIO CULTURAL FACTORS AFFECTING BREAST FEEDING PRACTICES ANDDECISIONS IN RURAL WOMEN

Objective of study: 1. To study the Sociocultural factors affecting Breast feeding practices and decisions among rural women. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 240 mothers having children <2 years age attending Rural field practice area of Shri B M Patil Medical College, Bijapur during September 2009 to March 2010.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 24.66 years. Out of 240 mothers 51.66% were having children 12-24 mths of age,52.91%children were of birth order one & 18.33% were of third order of birth or more,91.6% of mothers gave prelacteal feeds to their children, Almost all the mothers breast fed their child,23.3% of mothers had initiated breast feeding within 4 hours of delivery. 25% of mothers who had studied up to college level & more had not practiced exclusive breast feeding, only 35% mothers gave colostrums, 61.29% of the mothers started weaning after 6 mths of birth & 9.67% started weaning after one year of birth. Elderly females in the famiy were the major influencers of decision about exclusive breast feeding. Conclusion: It was found that 56.6% of mothers initiated breast feeding within first 24 hours of delivery. Shorter duration of breast feeding was observed among mothers with higher socio economic status. Literacy status had little effect on continuation of breast feeding for more than six months. 81.19% mothers had no knowledge regarding exclusive breast feeding and only 13.36% of mothers practiced almost exclusive breast feeding up to 4 months.