Maternal practices of baby feeding and hygiene in the city of Ludhiana, Punjab, India
Hubbard, C.
Indian Journal of Pediatrics 45(369): 318-322
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5456 PMID: 750478 DOI: 10.1007/bf02749260Document Number: 444853
66 mothers with children aged between 12-24 months were interviewed with a questionnaire in the industrial city of Lubhiana. The average age of the mothers ranged from 18-45 years. 66% were between 21-30; 39% had only 1 living child. 41% of the children were well nourished; were third degree malnourished. 91% were breast fed from birth. 30% mothers gave milk top feeds from birth; the additional milk was fresh buffalo (84%). The milk was boiled in 100% of cases and the water diluting the feeds was boiled in 46% cases. The water was added before the milk was boiled. 5% of mothers washed the bottle with water alone; 30% washed with an abrasive such as sand or ash. 49% never boiled the feeding bottle; 33% boiled the bottle once a day, and 18% boiled it before each feed. 23% claimed no incident or vomiting or diarrhoea, 26% admitted 1-2 incidents of vomiting or diarrhoea; 21% less than monthly bouts; 12% more than monthly bouts; and 18% admitted to weekly or more incidents of diarrhoea and vomiting. Deaths in rural India in the under age 5 group are attributed to malnutrition in 5% of cases.
Document emailed within 0-6 h
