Assessment of Breastfeeding Practices: Findings from Urban Slum Area at Ahmedabad City, India.

Introduction: Correct breast feeding technique, proper position and attachment are very important to get all benefits of breast feeding. Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) has also given utmost importance to the correct breast feeding technique. Objectives: To describe the socio-demographic profile and feeding practices among lactating mothers, to identify factors associated with good breast feeding (attachment) practices and to evaluate the impact of video demonstration on breast feeding practices immediately after and at one month follow up. Methodology: An interventional study was conducted at urban slums of Ahmedabad city, India. Results from 150 lactating mothers were analysed. Interactive sessions in conjunction with video demonstrations of IMNCI regarding correct breast feeding techniques were conducted among 9 groups of lactating mothers. Number of lactating mothers in each group varied from 15 to 20. Good signs of attachment were measured pre IMNCI video sessions, immediately and one month after the session. Results: Mean age of mothers was 26.44 years. Total mothers who had more than 6 antenatal visits were 59.3%. Two-thirds of lactating mothers did not receive any kind of breast feeding related advice. Only 8.0% had initiated breast feeding after 48 hours of delivery. Some kind of pre lacteal feed was given to 41.3% of the newborns. Improvement in all four signs of good attachment (mouth widely open, lower lip turned outward, chin touching the breast and dark skin seen more above than below areola) was seen among lactating mothers while feeding their babies after training session. Mothers from higher social class and with education > 12 standard and mothers who have received advice during antenatal and postnatal period regarding breast feeding were found to have significant positive impact on determining good attachment while breast feeding. Conclusion: Breast feeding related counseling should be continued at frequent interval during post natal period, so that lactating mothers can follow correct breastfeeding practices.

Profiles, Practices and Perceptions towards Gender Preferences among Pregnant Women of Ahmedabad City, Gujarat, India.

Sex selective practices are of serious concern to the rapidly changing societies. The view of the pregnant women residing in urban areas should be considered. The present cross sectional study aims to study the obstetrics profiles, practices and perceptions of suburban pregnant women of communities in the service areas of a medical college. Antenatal women of the community of Saijpur ward attending antenatal clinics of the area formed the study subjects . Two hundreed pregnant women was interviewed using pre-tested Performa taking their consent. Institutional ethical consent was obtained beforehand and the data were analyzed.It was seen that out of the total 200 respondents, most of them (n=184, 92%) were literate. Forty two (21%) already had two daughters at the time of interview. The study showed that 31.5% (n=63) showed preference for male child and only few (n=29, 14.5%) showed preference for a girl child.It was evident that literacy has positive impacts on obstetrics practices of the women. Son preference is also observed among urban subclasses.Pregnant women tend to prefer a male child by and large, especially if the previous child is a daughter. Their views for such choice should be incorporated to bring about desired social change against gender imbalance.

Female feticide in the view of fertile females- A study among suburban pregnant women of Gujarat, India.

Background: Sex selective abortion and Female feticide are growing problems across the world, especially among third world countries like India. Level of awareness and views regarding preventing the same must also be considered among those who are pregnant, before expecting a social change ‘favourable’ to the ‘girl child’. Aims & Objective: To study the attitudes and awareness towards issues of female feticide among suburban pregnant women. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on antenatal women of the community of Saijpur ward attending government antenatal clinics of the area. A sample of 200 pregnant women was interviewed using pre-tested Performa taking their consent. Institutional ethical consent was obtained beforehand and the data were analyzed. Results: Out of all 31.5% and 14.5% preferred to have a male and female child, respectively as their current pregnancy outcome. Less than half (43.5%, n=87) of the respondents were aware about the term ‘Female feticide’ in local language. Most of them (n=183, 91.5%) were aware of the term ‘Pre-natal sex determination’ in their local language. None of the graduate respondents would have liked to go for abortion, had the fetus sex been determined beforehand. Conclusion: Socio-demographic factors play a role in women’s awareness for female feticide. Education forms a critical role for her attitudes towards ‘female feticide’. Television and Health-care providers proved to be better sources for awareness generation than others did.