Breast Feeding Problems in a Myanmar Community

ABSTRACT

To identify the maternal and infant problems associated with breast feeding, a random samply of 200 mothers (from Latha, Thaketa, South Okkalapa and Insein) with infants one year of age or less were interviewed. The highest percentage with maternal and infant problems were found among the following groups.(1) Maternal age 31-35 years, (2) College-educated group, (3) Government employees, (4) Ks. 1001-1500 income per head, (5) Parity 4 and 7 groups, (6) Those who had practised rigid feeding with previous infant, (7) Those who had maternal problems in the previous lactation, (8) Those who received antenatal care at hospital and private clinics, (9) Those with <=5 antenatal visits, (10) Those without advice on breast-feeding and diet, (11) Those who had received breast preparation, (12) Those delivered in Private clinics, (13) Those delivered instrumentally, (14) Those who had not received immediate mother-child contact, (15) Those who practised suckling after 30 mins. after delivery. 23.5 percent of mmothers interviewed had maternal problems such as cracked nipples, mastitis, breast abscess, low milk production, maternal illness and retracted nipple. 4.5 percent had various infant problems, twin delivery, neonatal jaundice, diarrhoea, pneumonia, oral thrush, acute respiratory infection and cyanosis.