ABSTRACT
Background: Being both highly prevalent public health problems in India, anemia in pregnancy (AIP) is hypothesized as a potential risk factor for low birth weight (LBW) baby as pregnancy outcome. In this context, this study was conducted among pregnant mothers registered in last 2 years under Bhatar block of Purba Bardhaman district, West Bengal. Objectives of this study were to assess the relationship of LBW babies with maternal anemia in antenatal period and also with background characteristics and pregnancy related factors.Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted among postnatal mothers who were registered during their pregnancy in sub-centers of this block during a reference period from April’15th - March’17th. The study subjects were identified from the records of each sub-centre and further categorized into two groups: Exposed (anemic) - Hb <11 gm% in any antenatal visits and Non-exposed(non-anemic) - Hb ≥11 gm% in all antenatal visits. Sample size of 988 for each group was calculated. From each sub-centre’s antenatal record 26 subjects for each group were selected by simple random sampling. Data collected with predesigned pretested schedule and data analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS 20. Logistic regression was performed to establish association.Results: Overall incidence of LBW was 8.1%; in anemic, non-anemic group incidence were 10.5%, 5.7% respectively. AIP had relative risk 1.85 (1.36-2.54) over LBW. On multivariable logistic regression, LBW was significantly associated with AIP (2.11, 1.51-2.95), multi-parity (0.63, 0.44-0.9), inadequate ANC visits (2.7, 1.75-4.15) and female gender (1.64, 1.19-2.27).Conclusions: Anemia in pregnancy significantly increases risks of LBW which also strongly associated with female new-born, primi-parity, and incomplete ANC visits
ABSTRACT
Background: Breast milk contains all the nutrients an infant needs in the first six months of life. After 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), WHO recommends infants should receive complementary foods. Only less than half of infants in India initiate breastfeeding within an hour and just about half are exclusively breastfed until 6 months. We conducted this study on various knowledge and practices for successful exclusive breast feeding.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted with pretested and prestructured questionnaire on mothers of children in age group of 6 moths to 5 years.Results: Only 18 (21.7%) are working, 10 (12%) are illiterate and 7 (8.4%) are graduate. All of the mothers have heard about EBF. Mothers with correct knowledge of colostrums feeding being beneficial for baby (0.006), prelacteal feeding being harmful to baby (0.0003), knowledge of continuing EBF when baby is sick (0.00002), education (0.00015), when to start complementary feeding(0.001), institutional delivery (0.00002), when latching explained by nurses (0.0116), those who practiced burping (0.017), were significant for EBF for 6 months. Only 42 (50.6%) of mothers fed colostrum to their babies.Conclusions: In this study it was seen that mothers with knowledge for different aspects of breast feeding had more chance of successful EBF. Female literacy was found out to be a strong indicator for successful EBF and also a indicator for colostrum feeding in future pregnancy. Special attention to be given to raise awareness of family members, specially mother in law so that complementary feeding can be started at 6 months.