Obstetric and infant feeding practices in Punjab: effect of educational intervention
Gupta, A.; Gupta, R.
Indian Pediatrics 29(3): 333-335
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-6061 PMID: 1612675 Document Number: 322383
2 pediatricians in Delhi, India compared December 1987 data on 100 mothers of 6-month old infants (group I) with March-April 1989 data on 100 other mothers of 4-month old infants (group II) to examine the effect of a campaign against bottle feeding. The campaign consisted of local physicians viewing 2 videos on breast feeding, posting of antibottle feeding posters in almost all hospitals and pediatrician and obstetrician clinics, a lecture on appropriate and harmful infant feeding practices, and meetings with local obstetricians asking them to stop giving infants a bottle and formula. Even though all mothers had attended prenatal clinics, only 13% of group I mothers and 11% of group II mothers had received advice on breast feeding, and a physician or nurse advised women to bottle feed in about 50% of cases. Yet 60% of group II mothers received postnatal information on breast feeding and dangers of bottle feeding. 90% of group I infants had received bottle feedings at least once. At the time of the interview, group I mothers were exclusively breast feeding only 17% of their infants compared with 44% for group II mothers. 64% of group II infants moved into the mother's room within 2 hours of delivery. Mothers began to breast feed 51% of their infants within 24 hours. Rooming-in had a positive effect on exclusive breast feeding among group II infants. For example, 54.6% of those infants who roomed in with their mothers within 2 hours were exclusively breast fed compared with 25% of those who roomed in after 2 hours. 75% of infants who were exclusively breast fed were those who began breast feeding within 12 hours, 37% within 12-24 hours, and 32.6% after 24 hours. Only 2% of group II infants had received breast milk as their 1st feeding, but 90% received honey. The campaign did result in improved postnatal advice on breast feeding and a subsequent increase in the prevalence of breast feeding.