ABSTRACT
Background: The World Health Organization recommends the practice of exclusive breastfeeding of infants for the first 6 months after birth. The objective of present study was to estimate the prevalence and the factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding. The perceptions of mothers about breastfeeding in an urban slum area of Western India were also enquired. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted over six months amongst 200 mothers of children in the age group of 6 – 12 months attending the growth and development clinic in one of the urban health centres. Data was collected using a pre-tested, structured questionnaire on breastfeeding practices. Factors related to exclusive breastfeeding were analysed using bivariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding reported by the participants was 61.5%. Having a male child, maternal age < 30 years, level of education of mother, parity, receiving infant feeding advice, initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth and administration of colostrum to the baby were associated with exclusive breastfeeding (p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that male sex (adjusted odd ratios: 20.03), primiparity (0.19), home delivery (0.32), receiving infant feeding advice (5.90), initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth (0.26) and giving colostrum to the baby (2.56) were independently associated with exclusive breastfeeding. Prelacteal feeds were given by almost 35% of mothers. Conclusion: Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was higher than the national figures. However, practices like discarding the colostrum, giving prelacteal feeds, early/late weaning and use of formula feeds are still widely prevalent and need to be addressed.
ABSTRACT
Beta Haemolytic Streptococcal (BHS) infections and their sequelae Rheumatic Fever (RF) and Glomerulonephritis (GN) have a world wide distribution and so pose an important health problem. Reports show that there is considerable variation in the number of isolations from different groups. Present study intended to find out the health status of the school children in relation to streptococcal throat infection, in Dhaka Cantonment. It was a cross sectional, observational study. During one year period total six hundred and one (601) children were examined from one school of Dhaka Cantonment. Prevalence of streptococcus was found to be 22% among the study population with highest rate (67%) for group-G among BHS positive cases. True streptococcal infection was found in 8.7% cases & 2.2% cases were true GABHS positive cases. GABHS was significantly higher in large size families. Females and children from lower socioeconomic group were at higher risk. Females and children of large families may require special attention regarding prevention of streptococcal infection and RF/RHD prevention programme.