HYDERABAD: Changing lifestyles has taken a toll on the pattern of Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices in the city. The results of a research study titled ‘IYCF practices among mothers in Hyderabad’ conducted at a government hospital in the city in 2014, and published recently, has sprung startling facts, one of them being: only 34.1 per cent mothers are able to feed their children at a ‘minimum meal frequency’ of two hours.
The study, conducted on 520 mothers focusing on children aged between 0-24 months, also revealed that only 33.8 per cent of mothers initiate early breastfeeding (within an hour). Lack of awareness was the primary reason cited by the remaining for the delayed initiation of breastfeeding.
While 71 per cent of the mothers in the study were educated, the research found out that a majority of them still continued the practice of feeding babies water mixed with honey which is unhygienic: increasing the risk of diarrhea and other infections.
According to the World Health Organisation, a child needs to be exclusively breastfed for six months without being introduced to any other milk source or semi-solid food. However, the research found that this practice was not being adhered to by urban mothers.
“The advantages (exclusive breastfeeding) include a lower risk of gastrointestinal infection for the baby, rapid maternal weight loss after birth, and delayed return of menstrual periods,” reads a statement from WHO.
Dr Sudhir Mane, one of the researchers involved in the study, said there is a direct correlation between the level of awareness and correct breastfeeding practices. “Working women often find it hard to adequately breastfeed their children. Bottle feeding or formula feeds as a substitute for breast milk exposes the child to several infections,” he said. As an alternative, mothers can use a breast pump to store breast milk for later use, he added. “Formula feeding which has gained prominence in recent times cannot replace the natural benefits of breast milk, he added.
“Formula feeding, which has gained prominence over the past few years, is good but cannot replace the immunity levels that comes with breast milk,” said Pranitha Reddy, another researcher from the team.
What does the study include?
The study included optional and core indicators to assess IYCF practices as prescribed by WHO. Minimum meal frequency, exclusive breastfeeding under six months and introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods were some of the indicators.