Infant feeding patterns in Rewa.

PIP: Infant feeding patterns of 500 infants, of which 15.4% were hospital-born and 54.2% were poor and of low socioeconomic status, were studied. 98.2% were breastfed at birth; 35.4% at 12 months. For artificial feeding, 56% were given cow's milk, 14.8% buffalo's milk, 6% goat's milk, and 3.3% powdered milk. Undiluted milk was given in 40.7% of the cases, while the rest received diluted milk (milk:water ratio varying from 3:1-1:1). Irrational, common beliefs were that water and fruits cause colds, maternal diseases are transmitted through breastmilk, and colostrum is impure, and that milk is not digested properly.^ieng