[version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]
No competing interests were disclosed.
Background: The best strategy for enhancing a child’s health is breastfeeding. Success depends on starting breastfeeding as soon as possible after birth. Breastfeeding should begin during the first few hours of life and should be continued for the first six months, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. Early initiation of breastfeeding and six months of exclusive nursing are necessary for the infant’s cognitive development. For a child to meet their developmental milestones and reduce the incidence of infant mortality in India, nutrition throughout the first 1000 days of life is essential. A substantial focus on modifying feeding habits in the first 1000 days is required.
The study’s objectives are to assess the knowledge regarding early initiation to exclusive breastfeeding after childbirth (within 24 hours and seven days of post-delivery) and the knowledge regarding breastfeeding techniques. Methods: - In this cross-sectional study, 355 lactating women are included in the age group of 20-35 years in the Wardha district. The study excludes those women who are not willing to participate, and those with medical conditions such as HIV, cancer, psychosis, active tuberculosis, complicated delivery, the baby who required neonatal NICU and neonatal resuscitation admission in the immediate post-delivery period, and those with Gross Congenital anomaly. The key outcome variables were timely and exclusive breastfeeding initiation and techniques. The data collection tool is a face-to-face questionnaire that will be developed through open data kit (ODK)) based on WHO and NFHS-4 and 5 surveys. We will analyze data through the use of Microsoft Excel software. Conclusions: Early breastfeeding initiation, exclusive breastfeeding, and supplemental feeding strategies are all included in the research to assess and identify women’s knowledge, attitude, and nursing practices.
The registration of the study is in process in the clinical trial registration of India with this reference no. REF/2023/06/068537.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) advise exclusively nursing a baby during the first six months of life, starting with the initial hour after delivery and discontinuing it at age two or later.
According to 16 states and Union Territories that reported an increase, the NFHS-5 data indicates that exclusive breastfeeding is improving. These states include Goa, Gujarat, Assam, Bihar, Maharashtra, Daman & Diu, Telangana, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Kerala, Ladakh, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Meghalaya, and West Bengal. World Breastfeeding Week is commemorated annually from August 1 to August 7.
Children’s feeding habits have mainly progressed, except for the percentage of children under three years old who were breastfed within an hour of delivery, which has remained stable since NFHS-4. The rate of exclusively breastfed children under six months has improved significantly, from 55% in NFHS-4 to 64% in NFHS-5.
According to the World Health Organisation, the first six months of a child’s life need to be spent breastfeeding. To practice exclusive breastfeeding, mothers’ knowledge and a healthy attitude are essential.
Children that have early skin-to-skin contact with their mothers interact with them more and cry less. Additionally, it improves the mother-child bond, reduces newborn hypothermia, and lessens the mother’s risk of postpartum hemorrhage, a major contributor to maternal death. Assume that we are unable to enhance this important indication, then all the advantages mentioned above would be jeopardized, and we might not make the best use of a crucial and cost-effective program to reduce newborn, infant, and maternal morbidity and death.
begin nursing an hour after birth Newborns should only be breastfed for the first six months to provide the best possible growth, development, and health. Infants should continue breastfeeding while eating safe, nutritionally adequate supplements to meet their changing dietary needs. Mother’s milk should be given to the child for at least two years.
According to the WHO, nursing also has advantages for mothers. It is a natural way of preventing pregnancy that offers ninety-eight percent defence in the first six months after birth.
This paper assesses the knowledge, attitude, and practices of IYCF with the parameter of socio-demographic area, knowledge regarding feeding techniques, early initiation, and complementary feeding practices of lactating mothers aged between 20-35 years. Women were excluded if they were unwilling to participate, or had untreated HIV, cancer, psychosis, active tuberculosis, had a complicated delivery, the baby required NICU and neonatal resuscitation admission in the immediate post-delivery period, or had a gross congenital anomaly. Data will be collected through self-made Odk survey responses, and M.S. Excel will be used for analysis. The study aim is to evaluate people’s understanding, attitudes, and usage of IYCF practices.
Assess the percentage of women with knowledge of the early initiation of breastfeeding. To study the myths and misconceptions of breastfeeding. To study the current complimentary feeding practices amongst the study population.
This research is similar to that of Bhalamwala
In a subsequent study, Bhatt
Prajapati
Kushwaha
A cross-sectional observational study will be conducted in Wardha District, Maharashtra from February 2023 to October 2023.
The study participants for this paper will be women in Wardha district aged 20-35 years who are lactating mothers. A convenience sampling method will be used for the study. The inclusion criteria will be lactating mothers between 20-35 years of age group.
Variables are clearly defined for all outcomes, exposures, predictions, and impact modifiers.
Socio-demographic background Knowledge regarding breastfeeding, early initiation Myths related to breastfeeding
A validated structured questionnaire will be created in ona.io (Odk questionnaire) format and used for the data collection. Face-to-face interviews will be conducted after filling out the consent form with a predesigned, standardized questionnaire regarding knowledge, attitude, and practices of IYCF. The data will be collected in Odk form. The participants will answer questions regarding knowledge of IYCF practices such as early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, and complimentary feeding practices. Knowledge of colostrum and its advantages will be assessed (
MODULE 1 will include questions on socio-demographic background (A/C to Modified BG Prasad Socioeconomic Status Scale) MODULE 2 will include questions on knowledge regarding breastfeeding, early initiation (A/C to WHO & UNICEF IYCF Practices) MODULE 3 will include questions on myths related to breastfeeding
| Key study parameters | Variables | Data sources | Data collection method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Socio-demographic profile of Mother- 10 Questions |
Age Education Occupation Economic status |
AVBRH hospital Sawangi (Meghe) Wardha | A survey using a Questionnaire |
| Assess the knowledge regarding feeding techniques (position) and early initiation of mother and child- 16 Questions |
Early initiation Breastfeeding duration First, milk importance Complimentary feeding |
A survey using a Questionnaire | |
| Thirteen questions to test first-time parents' breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, and practices. |
Myths related to breastfeeding |
A survey using a Questionnaire |
The sample size is 355 lactating women in Wardha District.
Estimate a proportion with absolute precision:
Alpha (α) – 0.05
Estimation error (p) – 0.64
Estimation error (d) – 0.05
The minimum sample size needed: 355
Numerous publications on early initiation and IYCF nursing practices have been read. The study “Prevalence and variables related with early beginning of breastfeeding among women in Moshi Municipality, Northern Tanzania,” and the NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 data of 5% prevalence in the study, 0.5 significance for the study, of which 355 respondents are necessary.
Socio-demographic variables, and subjects’ age will be collected and categorized as a numerical variable and classified (20 to 35years) Knowledge of complimentary feeding and myths related to breast feeding
Descriptive statistics will be used
The data will be entered in M.S. Excel Data will be presented using a table and graph.
Information will be collected and analyzed using the Open data kit and Microsoft Excel software. Descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency, and percentage of different parameters will be calculated. Association and correlation between early breastfeeding will be examined using a chi-square test.
There may be information bias in this research, such as some questions missed by the researchers, and recall bias, for example relating to when the mother fed the child for the first time.
Through our study, we wish to assess the following:
The percentage of women with knowledge of early initiation of breastfeeding. Myths and misconceptions prevalent amongst the study participants regarding breastfeeding. Percentage of women with knowledge of complementary feeding practices amongst the study population. Association of socioeconomic status of the study population with IYCF practices.
Assess the percentage of women with knowledge of the early initiation of breastfeeding and the ability to complementary feed the child.
The results of this study should be interpreted in the context of several limitations. These include the study’s cross-sectional nature, the lack of information on breastfeeding practices, and the lack of indicators that align with WHO guidelines. Lastly, there were just a small number of demographic variables that could be used as control variables. This was due to some potential demographic variables being dominated by single categories. Future studies may benefit from the inclusion of additional control variables, including things such as social norms, cultural practices, and the inclusion of spouse data, which were not available in this study. Strengths include large sample size, randomization of sampling units, and the presence of a large-scale intervention.
Our study found that focused and well-coordinated breastfeeding policies and interventions by healthcare professionals, dispelling myths about breastfeeding, and promoting EIBF will increase the early start of nursing practices for all Indian mothers. This study will show the increased awareness for early initiation, exclusive breastfeeding, and complementary feeding. Understanding that breastfeeding promotes the bond between mother and child is helpful. Additionally, this research shows that breast milk is more essential for children than bottled or formulated milk. For making policies related to the promotion of early initiation and complementary feeding for 0 to 1 year of a child.
The study will be published in an indexed journal.
The study has not yet started.
Ethical approval for this study (DMIHER (DU)/IEC/2023/646) was provided by the Ethical Committee of Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University) on 11/02/2023.
Informed written consent will be obtained from all study participants prior to starting the study.
No data are associated with this article.
Zenodo: Questionnaire about breastfeeding.edited. DOI:
Questionnaire about breastfeeding.edited.docx
Data are available under the terms of the
I would like to thank Mr. Laxmikant Umate, Statistician and Member of Research Guidance Unit, Research & Development Cell, DMIHER for their contribution in a part of sample size calculation to the completion of research manuscript.