Breastfeeding practices and its determinants: a descriptive cross sectional study in Aligarh

Background: The study was aimed to study the practices related to breastfeeding among newborns in Aligarh and to assess the determinants of breastfeeding practices.Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in the field practice areas of Department of Community medicine, AMU, Aligarh. All the live births in one-year study duration were included in the study. Verbal consent was obtained prior to the interview. Data was collected by interview technique using semi structured questionnaire and analysed in SPSS 20.Results: A total of 705 newborns were enrolled in the study. 5.3% of the mothers in our study didn't breastfeed their newborns even after 24 hours after the delivery. 6% of the mothers discarded their colostrum and 36.9% of mothers gave prelacteals to their newborns. Almost half of the newborns were exclusively breastfed. There is a significant association between being primiparous and not practicing exclusive breastfeeding (p=0.003). However, no significant association was found between breastfeeding practices and gender, birth order of newborn, age and education of mother.Conclusions: Present study shows that 64.2% of newborns received the right breastfeeding practices which is quite good as per the national average. This study emphasizes the need to address the practices like discarding the colostrum and use of prelacteal feed which are still widely prevalent.

Prevalence Of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders In Realtion To The Use Of Chewable Tobacco

Introduction:Tobacco has been considered as a major etiological factor in the development of oral potentially malignant disorders. Any form of chewable tobacco is as significant in relation to oral carcinoma as is Smoked tobacco. Objective:To find out the association of Chewable tobacco with Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders.Material Methods: it was a cross sectional descriptive study through a self-structured questionnaire and oral examination by the observer in a sample of 1078 participants.Observations:Chewable tobacco increases 7.5 times more risk for having OPMD than non-chewers. Gutkha is the most common form of smokeless tobacco 115(55.8%) and supari 1(11.1%) is the least common form of smokeless tobacco present in the participants with. Strong association was seen between frequency of tobacco use and occurrence of oral precancerous lesions OPMD.Conclusions and Recommendations:The use of smokeless tobacco was significantly associated wit

Prevalence Of Potentially Malignant Disorders Of Oral Cavity In Adult Population In The Rural And Urban Areas Of Aligarh

Introduction: Oral cancer is a serious problem worldwide. It is sometimes preceded by clinically visible lesions which are called precancerous lesions, and usually culminate in development of oral cancers. Oral malignancies lay a huge burden on the patients, socially as well as economically. Community intervention programs along with involvement if dental health professionals could play a huge role in limitation of the oral malignancies. Aims and objectives: To find out the prevalence of oral potentially malignant disorders in Aligarh, and its association with age and gender. Methods: Community based Cross sectional descriptive study was performed using a pretested questionnaire in a sample of 1078 participant .Systematic Random Sampling was used and the data analysis was done using SPSS24. Results: 25.3% of the participants were found to have clinical features of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMD), overall prevalence of OPMD was 19.1% in study participants, more prevalent in age group 46-55 years (28.9%), and in males (33.5%) as compared to females (7.8%). Conclusion and Recommendations: Community intervention programs, and Government aided programs should be put in place to curb this very important public health problem. The role of dental health professionals in motivating the population to limit the consumption of tobacco and tobacco containing products also cannot be undermined.