Factors causing non-breastfeeding in children under six months of age in district Nowshera, Pakistan
Rab Nawaz1, Shafiq Ur Rehman, Shah Nawaz
1Department of Community Medicine, Bannu Medical College, Bannu, Pakistan.
Insights
Perception of insufficient breast milk, working mothers, and twin births are key reasons for not breastfeeding infants under six months. Early initiation of breastfeeding is crucial for infant health.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Maternal Health
Background:
- Bottle feeding is a significant public health issue in developing nations, contrasting with trends in developed countries.
- While breastfeeding prevalence in Pakistan is high (90-98%), certain subgroups experience lower rates (60-80%).
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the primary reasons for non-breastfeeding in children under six months of age in Pakistan's Nowshera district.
- To evaluate the timing of initial breastfeeding practices for newborns in the study area.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted across ten union councils in Nowshera district.
- A simple random sampling method selected 305 children under six months of age.
- Data collection utilized a pre-designed questionnaire, with analysis performed using descriptive statistics.
Main Results:
- The study included 198 rural and 107 urban children; 71.8% of mothers/guardians were uneducated.
- Key reasons for non-breastfeeding: perceived insufficient milk (45.9%), working mothers (18.4%), maternal chronic diseases (13.1%), infant diseases (17%), subsequent pregnancy (3.61%), maternal death (0.98%), and twin births (0.98%).
- Breastfeeding initiation occurred on day one for 61%, day two for 19%, day three for 10.8%, after day three for 3.9%, and 5.2% received no breastfeeding.
Conclusions:
- The primary drivers of non-breastfeeding in infants under six months are the perception of insufficient milk supply, maternal employment, and the presence of twin babies.
- Addressing these factors is critical for improving breastfeeding rates and infant health outcomes.
Background:
In developing countries bottle feeding has emerged a big public health problem while in developed countries the trend is opposite. Prevalence of breast feeding in Pakistan is 90-98% but in some subgroups of population it is as low as 60-80%. The objectives of the study were to determine the causes of non breast feeding in children less than six months of age in district Nowshera, and assess practice of starting first breast feeding to the newborn.
Methods:
A cross sectional study was conducted in ten union councils of district Nowshera. A total of 305 children under six month age were selected by simple random method. Data was collected on pre-designed questionnaire and analysed by descriptive statistics.
Results:
The study included 198 children from rural and 107 from urban areas. Mothers/guardians of 71.8% children were uneducated. Causes of non breast feeding included perception of mothers of having insufficient milk (45.9%), working mothers (18.4%), mothers with chronic diseases (13.1%), children with congenital or acquired diseases (17%), mothers having next pregnancy (3.61%) whose mothers have been died (0.98 %) and twin babies (0.98%). On the other hand, 61% babies started breast feeding on first day, 19% on second, 10.8% on third and 3.9% after third day while 5.2% babies got no breast feeding at all.
Conclusion:
Main causes of non-breastfeeding in less than six month age are perception of having insufficient milk, working women and twin babies.
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