This study aimed to examine infant feeding practices and their determinants in District Aligarh, India. 354 mothers of children aged 6 months to 5 years were interviewed using a questionnaire. The results showed that only 29.7% of infants were breastfed within 1 hour of birth and 41.24% were exclusively breastfed for 6 months. Mothers who lived in urban areas, had antenatal care visits, received breastfeeding advice during pregnancy, and delivered at institutions were more likely to have optimal breastfeeding practices. The study concluded that improving antenatal care, health education during pregnancy, and institutional deliveries could promote better infant feeding in the district.

1. DETERMINANTS OF BREASTFEEDING PRACTICES IN DISTRICT ALIGARH.Authors :Dr Tabassum Nawab, Prof. Zulfia Khan, Dr M Athar Ansari, Dr R Ahmed, Dr E. Waqarib.Department of Community Medicine, JNMCH, Aligarh.

2. Background:Exclusive breastfeeding - single most effective intervention for child survival. Universalising early & exclusive breastfeeding - major public health intervention to reduce mortality in the neonates and infants. Improving complementary feeding can reduce anemia and stunting .Objectives :1) To study the pattern of feeding of infants.2) To study the factors determining the feeding practices.3) To recommend ways to improve the same.

3. METHODOLOGY:Design: cross-sectionalSetting: antenatal & immunization clinic of Rural & Urban Health Training Centers , Department of Community Medicine, Antenatal OPD & Pediatric OPD, JNMCH, Aligarh.Study unit: mothers of children aged >6 months till 5 years of age , attending these clinics.Inclusion Criteria: A female having any child aged >6 months till 5 years , irrespestive of her current pregnancy status.Exclusion Criteria:A female having a child aged <=6 months or >5 years.

4. Mother who did not give consent for interview.Study tool:A predesigned & pretested oral questionnaire.

5. In case a female had more than one child in the required age group, she was interviewed regarding the feeding practices in the youngest child. Sample size: In total 354 mothers were interviewed during 15 days of survey.Sampling: Consecutive sampling was done , with 25 mothers per day.Analysis: was done using SPSS 17. Chi square test was applied to test statistical significance.

6. RESULTS

11. Table no.1.Distribution of study population by antenatal history and infant feeding practices

12. Table no.2.DETERMINANTS OF BREASTFEEDING PRACTICESa - SIGNIFICANT, P < 0.05 b -NOT SIGNIFICANT,

13. Table no. 4.DETERMINANTS OF BREASTFEEDING PRACTICESa - SIGNIFICANT, P < 0.05 b -NOT SIGNIFICANT,

14. Table no. 6.DETERMINANTS OF BREASTFEEDING PRACTICESa - SIGNIFICANT, P < 0.05 b -NOT SIGNIFICANT,

15. CONCLUSION:Breastfeeding was started within 1 hr - 29.7% of infants Exclusive Breastfeeding - 41.24% infants only.Complementary feeding was started at appropriate time - 61.3% infants.Breastfeeding started within 1 hr is affected significantly by urban residence, any ANC, advice for BF given during pregnancy & institutional delivery.Prelacteals administration is affected by any ANC, advice for BF given during pregnancy & institutional delivery.Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 Months is affected significantly by education of mother, any ANC, advice for BF given during pregnancy & institutional delivery.Appropriate complementary feeding is affected significantly by education of mother and place of residence.

16. CONCLUSION:Majority of the mothers living in urban areas started breastfeeding within 1 hour after birth.Complementary feeding was started appropriately in mothers who were urban and were educated >high school.Mothers who had even a single contact with health personnel, who received health education regarding breastfeeding during pregnancy and who underwent institutional delivery were more likely to have good breastfeeding practices.RECOMMENDATIONS:IEC activities should be directed towards education of mothers .Atleast three contact with the health personnel during antenatal period, as recommended under RCH, and health education regarding breastfeeding during pregnancy should be ensured.

17. Thank you!BAB-E-SYED