Study of feeding patterns during the first three months of life in and out maternity wards

ABSTRACT

Breast feeding promotion and immunization are important interventions of child survival programs, especially in developing countries. To study feeding patterns during the first three months of life and to identify possible factors associated with early termination of breast feeding. A retrospective study consisting of the analysis of all available feed charts of infants born in Princess Mary Maternity Hospital were carried out [between 7/2/1986 and 6/5/1986], 80 were selected according to inclusion criteria. In addition, 60 babies were chosen from Al Wahda Hospital, Derna, Libya [from 1/1/2007 to 31/3/2007]. Bottle feeding is shown to be more associated with the occurrence of diarrhea as opposed to fully breast feeding [P<0.05]. The mean birth weight in Princess Mary Maternity Hospital, U.K was significantly higher than that in Al Wahda Hospital, Derna, Libya [3.58 +0.46 and 3.45 +0.7 Kgms respectively, P<0.001]. Only 53.9% of mothers included in Princess Mary Maternity Hospital sample were fully breast-feeding on discharge from hospital. In Al Wahda Hospital, Derna, Libya, 75% of mothers included were fully breast-feeding on discharge from hospital. there were more cases of diarrhea among those babies who wee bottle fed or partially breast fed cases [46.7%] out of 15 babies who were bottle fed or partially breast fed, contrasted with only 4 cases [8.7%] of diarrhea among those who were fully breast fed. Many reasons were given by mothers for stopping breast-feeding or introducing bottles. The two most important were insufficient breast milk, and problems with breast and/or nipples. Two factors are likely to affect duration of breast-feeding birth weight and age of the mother