ASSESSMENT OF BREASTFEEDING COUNSELLING PRACTICES IN EXPECTANT MOTHERS DURING ANTENATAL VISITS

Abstract

Introduction: Breastfeeding is a natural way of providing young infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. Pakistan has highest bottle-feeding rates and lowest exclusive breastfeeding rates in South Asia. Promotion and support of breastfeeding is global priority and important child survival intervention. For breastfeeding to be successfully initiated and established mothers need the active support during pregnancy.

Objective: To assess the existing breastfeeding counseling practices among expectant mothers and to suggestappropriate recommendations to further promote breastfeeding counseling practices during antenatal visits.

Study Design: Descriptive Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Gynecology and Obstetrics department of Military Tertiary care hospital Rawalpindi from March to May 2016.

Material and Methods: Self-administered semi structured questionnaire pretested by pilot study was used for data collection on a sample size of 417 expectant mothers.

Results: Out of 417 expectant mothers 26.3% had received antenatal counseling while 72.3% had not received any counseling. Awareness regarding benefits of breastfeeding of expectant mothers was determined.

Conclusion: Existing Antenatal counseling on breastfeeding is inadequate in the population studied and needs to be strengthened. Informing all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding should be priority during antenatal visits.