Practices and Knowledge of mothers' about infant nutrition: A crosssectional analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Child feeding practices, such as breastfeeding, have an impact on the nutritional status of infants and toddlers. The comfort and knowledge of the mother regarding lactation are determinants of feeding outcomes.Aim: With the aforementioned context in mind, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the level of knowledge and practise concerning infant nutrition among mothers whose children are between 0 and 12 months old. Methods: The OutPatient Department of the Paediatrics department at MGM Medical College and Hospital, a tertiary care facility located in the Kolhan division of Jharkhand, was the site of this descriptive cross-sectional study. The study was carried out between February 2022 and August 2023.
Results: A total of 224 study participants (100%) possessed the understanding that all infants should be breastfed; however, knowledge regarding exclusive lactation was limited to 66.52%. With regard to the prompt commencement of lactation subsequent to childbirth,
50.45% of the respondents indicated that they had knowledge. Within an hour of delivery, a majority of the participants (133, or 59.38%) in this study commenced lactation. Four hours following childbirth, a mere 20% of the mothers [43 (19.20%)] initiated lactation.
Conclusion: The current study demonstrates that the lactation behaviour exhibited by the participants in the research remains suboptimal.