TO STUDY THE DETERMINANTS, KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE OF INITIATION OF BREAST-FEEDING PRACTICES AMONGST MOTHERS DELIVERED AT OUR TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival. However, contrary to WHO recommendations, fewer than half of infants under 6 months old are exclusively breastfed.1 Breastmilk is the ideal food for infants. It is safe, clean and contains antibodies which help protect against many common childhood illnesses. Breastmilk provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the first months of life, and it continues to provide up to half or more of a childs nutritional needs during the second half of the first year, and up to one third during the second year of life.1Early breastfeeding is defined as the initiation of breastfeeding within 24 hours of birth. While the benefits of breastfeeding have been known for decades, only recently has the role of time to initiation of breastfeeding in neonatal mortality and morbidity been assessed.