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JOURNAL REPORT
Title: Breast Feeding Practices and Newborn Care in Rural Areas: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Author/s: K Madhu, Sriram Chowdary, and Ramesh Masthi

Year Published: 2009
Article link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2800906/

Summary:
Researchers are attempting to examine demographic factors, breastfeeding, and neonatal care practices in this
study. The benefits of breastfeeding depend on when it is started, how long it lasts, and how old the kid is when
they are weaned. In rural India, nursing practices tend to be molded by a community's beliefs, which are in turn
impacted by social, cultural, and economic considerations (Iskandar et al., 1990) . In order to prevent a drop in
the commencement and duration of breastfeeding habits, the study with these associations aids in directing
breastfeeding promotion actions.
There was a pre-tested questionnaire utilized. All mothers who visited the rural health care facility in succession
over the course of four months were questioned until the sample size of 100 was attained. The pre-tested
questionnaire contained a number of variables that could have an impact on beginning and continuation of
breastfeeding practices.
The majority of mothers (97%) started nursing, while the remaining 3% were unable to do so solely due to
being apart from their mothers (2%) or advice from their mother-in-law (1%). 13% of the infants were
exclusively given sugar water for more than 48 hours after delivery. Ghee (3%) and honey (6%) were two more
popular pre-lacteal meals. Only 40% of moms exclusively breastfed their infants for the first six months before
beginning to wean them.
Nearly all of the women in the study had started nursing and maintained the practice through the nine-month
mark. Within 30 minutes following delivery, breastfeeding should begin (WHO, 1989). Oxytocin reflexes,
which are crucial for the contraction of the uterus and the breast milk reflex, will take longer to develop as a
result of the delayed start. The majority of the women' doctors informed them about best techniques for
breastfeeding. Mothers who sought care from government physicians exclusively nursed their children.
Nursing Implication:
Members of the nursing staff can assist mothers in the breastfeeding process in a number of ways, including
methods other than just feeding the baby using the breast. Teaching about the value of breastfeeding, providing
information on how to sustain milk supply, manual nursing techniques, using a breast pump, providing
instructional pamphlets, and identifying family members who can help mothers are all vital tasks.
When a newborn is being fed, the activities to watch for their suck reflex should be taken note of. This
demonstrates the medical experts' priority for breastfeeding is the infant's capacity to sucking. This care relates
to the need of determining if the areola-nipple area is receiving enough stimulation to encourage milk
production and ejection, as well as the concern to assess the baby's capacity to extract breast milk for self-
feeding.
The knowledge and skill required to offer consistent and evidence-based breastfeeding advice and support
throughout the preconception, prenatal, and postpartum periods should be acquired by nurses and other health
care workers who work with mother-infant dyads.
Learning Insights:
Breastfeeding offers both immediate and long-term positive health effects for infants. Short-term risks for
gastroenteritis, necrotizing enterocolitis, ear infections, discomfort after minor operations, hospital
readmissions, and respiratory infections are all decreased by breastfeeding. Also, there are various financial
advantages for families, society, public and private insurance, businesses, and government programs, in addition
to the numerous health advantages of breastfeeding.

Reference (in APA format)

1. Iskandar, M. B., Costello, C., & Nasution, Y. (1990). Initiation and Duration of Breast feeding in
Indonesia. Asia pac popul J, 5, 89-112.

2. World Health Organization, & UNICEF. Ten steps to promote successful breastfeeding Mother and
Child Health Division.[Internet] Geneva: 1989.

3. Madhu, K., Chowdary, S., & Masthi, R. (2009). Breast feeding practices and newborn care in rural
areas: a descriptive cross-sectional study. Indian journal of community medicine : official publication of
Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine, 34(3), 243–246. https://doi.org/10.4103/0970-
0218.55292