Breast feeding practices after normal vaginal and caesarean delivery in Gujarat, India.

Breast feeding is the mainspring of child survival, nutrition, development and maternal health. Early initiation of breastfeeding is an extremely important factor associated with the maintenance of long-term breastfeeding practice. Breastfeeding practices can be influenced by a variety of variables such as parity, mode of delivery; body mass index (BMI), breast or nipple abnormalities and behavioural factors are equally as important. The present study was conducted to analyze Breast Feeding Practices after Normal Delivery and Caesarean Delivery at a Tertiary Care Hospital. This cross sectional study was conducted at tertiary care hospital, by Convenient non-random sampling method, which included two groups; Group A: 100 mothers who delivered vaginally Group B: 100 mothers who gave birth through caesarean section (n=100 each). Participants were asked to complete standardized questionnaire consists of information on socio demographic and breast feeding practice. All anthropometric measurements were taken. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on maternal socio demographic characteristics, breastfeeding knowledge, practices along with source of information regarding breastfeeding and maternal experience. The study results shows that initiation of breastfeeding is most common in normal vaginal delivery (70%) among total 100 subjects of vaginal delivery category and also common in subjects with planned C-section (49%) of 100 subject"s caesarean delivery category. Association between the modes of delivery and initiation of breastfeeding within an hour was statistically significant (p<0.01). The present study indicates that C-sections are linked to higher breastfeeding challenges, greater resource usage, and shorter nursing duration.

Effect of cotton dust on lungs among female workers in cotton industry in northern Gujarat, India.

Byssinosis is a disabling occupational lung disease caused by cotton dust. It is a well-known occupational respiratory disease in cotton industry workers caused by cotton dust pollution. Many studies have been documented the effects of cotton dust on pulmonary function among workers employed in cotton-spinning mills. However, little data exist on the prevalence of this disorder in female workers particularly in western part of India. The present study was conducted to analyze the effects of exposure to cotton dust on pulmonary functions among female workers. The study was designed to assess the effects of exposure to cotton dust on lung functions among female cotton industry workers. Study group comprises 50 Female workers of cotton industry and control group comprises 50 age matched females who were neither worked in cotton industry nor exposed to cotton dust. Information was collected using standardized questionnaires, physical examination and spirometric measurements. Student's T test was used to find the difference between spirometric parameters. All the respiratory parameters (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, FEF 25-75 % PEFR and MVV) were reduced in cotton industry workers as compared with control subjects (p<0.0001) and no significant difference of SpO2 between groups. Cotton dust exposure makes huge impact on respiratory parameters of the cotton industry workers. This deterioration in respiratory health deteriorates with increasing duration of exposure. The health hazards caused by cotton dust should be controlled by creating awareness among the workers & employers.