Background: According to World Health Organization Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) is, giving baby only breast milk for 6 months without adding any additional food or water. Objectives: This Study was done to assess the prevalence of breastfeeding among mothers attending the vaccination clinic and Outpatient Department (OPD) in tertiary care centre and assessing the challenges faced by the mothers during breastfeeding. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with two types questionnaire-used, one to assess the prevalence of EBF and second to assess the knowledge related to breast feeding. Questionnaires were prepared based on one-point survey. Sample size was calculated by Daniel’s formula: n = z. 500 mothers were assessed, participants divided into two groups based on whether they exclusive breastfeed their babies for 6 months or not. Chi square test for independence was done to assess the association. Results: A total of 500 mothers were given questionnaire who visited vaccination clinic and OPD out of these 66 mothers did not participate for questionnaire because of lack of unwillingness. Most of the mothers (250, 65.10%) said that breastfeeding was good for the baby, 230 (59.89%) mothers were aware that mother’s milk composition was different from cow’s milk and (72.91%) felt that prelacteals should not be given to the baby. Conclusions: Most of the mothers are aware that breast milk is beneficial for their baby; however, the biggest problem was anxiety regarding the amount of their breast milk. There is also a need of campaign related to harm done by prelacteals feed.
Keywords
EBF, Prelacteal Feeds.
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