Assessment of Breast Feeding Practices among Mothers of Cleft Lip and Palate Babies

Introduction The goal in feeding an infant with a cleft lip or palate is similar to the goals in feeding any infant, maintaining nutrition in the first priority. The feeding difficulties in babies with cleft lip and/or palate are well documented, as many as 63 % of them experience such difficulties, most of these are related to reduce sucking efficiency. Thus, the present study was designed to find out the knowledge, attitude, beliefs and feeding methods practiced by the parents of babies with cleft lip and palate. Materials and method Sample of 200 respondents was recruited as part of simple random sampling, in age group between 18 to 35 years. Study site was the G. S. Memorial hospital, Mahmoorganj, Varanasi. Primary tool used in the study were pre designed and pre tested questionnaire which consisted of general and specific information required for the study. Face to face personal interview methods were employed to collect the data. Results The level of education among the women was categorized as primary, secondary, intermediate, graduate and illiterate also with 10 %, 25 %, 5 %, 20 % & 40 % respectively. In this study ratio of 62 % children received colostrum while 38 % did not receive colostrum due to several reasons like myths, lack of sucking reflex etc. Whereas only 2 % mothers know the importance of colostrum and 98 % mothers have no knowledge regarding importance of colostrum. According to this study first breast milk was secreted in 30 % mothers just after delivery, 25 % mothers secreted first milk after 5-22 hrs. , while 45 % mothers secreted breast milk after 23-72 hrs. The study found that 40 % infants were able to suck, while 30 % had no ability to suck the breast milk, 10 % had partial ability to suck the breast milk, whereas 20 % mothers had to pump their breast to feed their babies. Conclusion In the present study, spoon feeding was found to be the most common feeding method practiced by parents of children with cleft lip and palate. Prior to birth of their children, majority of mothers were motivated to breastfeed their child, but no attempt was made to enforce one particular method of feeding. The parents were encouraged to find the methods which best suited their baby by a process of trial and error. Cleft lip and palate, Infants, Breastfeeding, Methods of feeding, Nutrition.