Determinants of breastfeeding practices among mothers in urban slum area of Ludhiana

Background: Appropriate feeding practices in infants help to lay the foundation for physical and mental growth. It is the ideal nutrition for infants during 6 months. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted on all mothers who delivered at the Urban Health Centre for 18 months. Follow-up of infants was done at 6 months of age. Results: Out of 230 study subjects, half of them (115) were in the age group of 18-25 years with a mean age of 26.06 ± 4.7 years. The majority (81.7%) were literate and housewives (94.3%). A total of 82.2% had normal vaginal deliveries, and 66.9% were ≥2 gravida. More than two-thirds of the babies were born with normal birth weight, with a mean weight of 2.64 ± 0.43 kg, and 55.2% babies were male. Exclusive breastfeeding was practiced by 61.3% of subjects. Colostrum was given in 91.3% cases. Prelacteal feed was given by only 18.3% study subjects. The initiation of breastfeeding within 1 h was done by 53.9% of subjects. Exclusive breastfeeding was given more by housewives (62.2%), literate mothers (odds ratio = 3.22), and subjects delivered via normal vaginal delivery. The initiation of exclusive breastfeeding was significantly associated with the mode of delivery ( P = 0.001), birth order ( P = 0.02) and illness history during the first 6 months ( P = 0.027). Early initiation of breastfeeding was highest in the age group of 26-30 years (61.3%), more among literate (55.3%), working mothers (69.2%), and in migrants (58.5%). Conclusion: Colostrum feeding is on the rise, while prelacteal feed is decreasing in the study area.