BREASTFEEDING PRACTICES AND REASONS OF QUITTING: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION CHANNELS AT NISHTAR

Objective: To analyze the of breastfeeding practices of mothers and explore the reasons for quitting or not adopting the habit of breastfeeding by mothers. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Mothers visiting pediatric ward at Nishtar Hospital, Multan, from Jul to Dec 2018. Methodology: The questionnaire was used to take the response of mothers visiting pediatric ward at Nishtar Hospital, Multan. A total of 300 mothers were selected after getting informed consent to take part in the study. Consecutive sampling technique was applied to recruite the sample. Only those mothers were selected who had children of less than two years of age. Results: The results indicated that the majority of mothers were having poor knowledge about breastfeeding. Most of them were unaware of the advantages and effects of breastfeeding on the health of mothers and infants. The females with rural background were found more in practice of breastfeeding. Whereas, Urban mothers had very poor knowledge about breastfeeding and were found totally ignorant of breastfeeding effects on health, especially those who were younger in age and gave birth for the first time. Conclusion: The interpersonal communication channels were found effective and influential in molding the attitude in mothers towards breastfeeding practice.

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