BREASTFEEDING PRACTICES IN RURAL FIELD PRACTICE AREA OF A GOVERNMENT MEDICAL COLLEGE IN NORTHERN INDIA

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the exclusive breastfeeding practices among the lactating mothers in rural field practice areas of a Government Medical College Anantnag. Methods: It was a community-based cross-sectional study conducted in rural field practice area, Department of Community Medicine GMC Anantnag, for 6 months from May 2021 to October 2021. A total of 120 lactating mothers were interviewed who had delivered 1 year back. The study participants were selected by systematic sampling method. Results: In this study, 120 lactating mothers were interviewed. Around 68.4% of the mothers were in the age group of 20–30 years, 60% were illiterate, 78% of the mothers belonged to joint families, and 93.3% had institutional deliveries. The practice of exclusive breastfeeding among lactating mothers was 71.6%. Colostrum and pre-lacteal feeds were given by 93.4% and 80.8% of the mothers, respectively. Conclusion: The present study shows that the prevalence of breastfeeding is higher in the rural population. It is clear that delayed initiation of breastfeeding and use of pre-lacteal feeds is prevalent among mothers. There was also lack of knowledge of proper breastfeeding practices among rural women