Knowledge and practices of mothers for complementary feeding in babies visiting pediatrics outpatient department of Jinnah Hospital, Lahore

To assess the knowledge and practices of complementary feeding among mothers attending Paediatrics outpatient department. A cross - sectional study was conducted in Pediatrics OPD Jinnah Hospital Lahore from march - september, 2012. A total 250 mothers of the babies aged 6 - 12 months were selected by non-probability purposive sampling technique. Their knowledge and practices regarding complementary feeding was assessed by using a close ended pre-tested questionnaire. Nine questions were asked for knowledge and eight questions for practices. Data analysis was done by using 'Likert's scale' and each correct answer was given one mark. The knowledge and practices was ranked as good, satisfactory and poor depending upon the overall score. If score was more than 70%, it was regarded as good, if 50 - 70%, satisfactory and if less than 50% then it was considered as poor both for knowledge and practices. About 79.6% mothers exclusively breastfed their babies and 84% continued breastfeeding along with complementary feeding. The correct knowledge of initiation of complementary feeding was found in 54% of mothers but it was practiced by only 43%. The overall knowledge of 24% mothers was good and 28% had poor knowledge of complementary feeding whereas only 7% women had good overall practices. There is statistically significant association of education of the parents with the practices of complementary feeding [p-value = 0.012 and 0.0295 of mothers and fathers]. Occupation of the mothers and type of family had also shown statistically significant association [pvalue = 0.018 and 0.001 respectively] with the overall practices about complementary feeding. More than one third of mothers had poor overall knowledge regarding complementary feeding and a very few mothers had good overall practices. Education of parents, occupation of mothers and type of family had statistically significant association with complementary feeding

Knowledge and practices of resident doctors and nurses in breast feeding in obstetric and paediatrics departments of Jinnah hospital, Lahore

Breastfeeding is fundamental to the health and development of children and important for the health of their mothers. The promotion and support of breastfeeding is a global priority and an important child - survival intervention and the World Health Organization advocates exclusive breastfeeding for six months. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and practices among the resident doctors and nurses of Obstetric and Paediatrics departments regarding breastfeeding. It was a descriptive cross sectional study. It was carried out at the Obstetric and Paediatrics departments of Jinnah Hospital, Lahore from March - October 2009. Using non-probability purposive sampling, resident doctors and nurses of the obstetrics and pediatrics departments fulfilling the inclusion criteria and who gave their verbal consent were included in the study. Their knowledge and practices regarding breastfeeding were assessed by a pre-tested questionnaire. In a total of 133 respondents, 78 [59%] doctors and nurses were interviewed from the Obstetric department and 55 [41%] doctors and nurses were interviewed from the Paediatrics department. Regarding training for breastfeeding promotion, 98 [74%] of the respondents did not receive any training. The knowledge of the 77 [99%] respondents of the obstetric department and 55 [100%] of paediatrics departments was less than 50%. Regarding practices related to breastfeeding promotion, 58 [74%] and 48[89%] out of 133respondents of obstetric and Paediatrics department had poor practices [< 50%].There is poor knowledge and practices regarding breastfeeding among the health care workers of the tertiary level hospital as they had not received any proper in - service training while working in their respective departments

Socioeconomic factors affecting the accessibility to emergency obstetric care in a periurban area of district Lahore

To find out the frequency of emergencies related to obstetrics and the impact of socioeconomic factors influencing the accessibility to emergency obstetric care. Cross-sectional study. Place and duration of study: Shah di Kohi, District Lahore, Punjab, from October to November 2002.A total of 190 females of reproductive age group who had ever passed through the reproductive process were selected and interviewed. Out of 190 respondents. 55 experienced obstetrical complications. Thus [56%] complications occurred during pregnancy, 30% during delivery and 14% during postnatal period. Complication rate in women who have ever passed through the reproductive process was 8.9% but obstetrical complication rate in last one year [i.e. from30[th] November 2001 to 30[th] November 2002] was 12.5%. The impact of education of respondents and their husbands on accessibility to EOC within half an hour for obstetric emergencies was statistically significant [P- value =0.00058 and 0.00033 respectively] Decision were generally made by husbands, mother in laws and mothers for accessing EOC. In 81% of these complications, the respondents could not have access to EOC with in half an hour [P-value=0.0031]. Respondents' occupation, family income arid availability of conveyance had no effect on accessibility to emergency obstetric care within half an hour for critical obstetric emergencies. Illiteracy among the couples and decision-making by the husbands and mother-in-laws are the main factors responsible for not accessing the EOC within half an hour. Creating awareness among the couples though education and empowerment of women is necessary to decrease the maternal mortality and morbidity