Assessment of Determinants of Decrease in Tendency for Breast Feeding in Mothers Visiting Services Hospital Lahore

Abstract

Objective: Assesment of the determinants of decrease in tendency for breast feeding among
mothers visiting Gynae and Peads OPD of Services Hospital Lahore.
Material and Methods: This was a cross sectional, descriptive study, carried out at Services
Hospital, Lahore. Study duration was 6 months from June 2014 to August 2014. Study population
included all mothers before menopause in Gynae and Paeds OPD of Services Hospital Lahore.
Data was entered, cleaned and analyzed using SPSS version 16. Consent was obtained on the
form before hand.
Results: Breastfeeding practices were more in the mothers who had knowledge about benefits
of breastfeeding. The percentage of women having knowledge of benefits had increased
tendency to start breastfeed their child within 30 minutes of birth and to continue it for 2 years.
Mothers who had breastfeeding as a family tradition were provided with more suitable
environment which led to increased tendency for breast feeding. On contrary the mothers who
were not provided with a suitable environment and did not have breastfeeding as family tradition
had decreased tendency to breast feed their children. Mothers who were in good health condition
had increased tendency to breastfed their children. Breast feeding practice in women who did not
consider breastfeeding as old fashion and did not think breast feeding to affect their figure was
more than the mothers who preferred top feeding as a fashion. The breastfeeding practice in
women who had a good health status i.e. did not have systemic disease ,breast abnormality and
felt healthy after breast feeding is more than the mothers who had poor health status.
Conclusion: From the results it was concluded that lack of knowledge about benefits of
breastfeeding, misconceptions about taboos regarding breastfeeding affecting figure and is an
old fashioned practice, poor health status of mothers, increased work load on the part of mothers
and lack of suitable environment to breastfeed led to decrease in tendency for breastfeeding.