Population Council Research that makes a difference

APHA 139th Annual Meeting and Exposition
29 October–2 November 2011

Abstract

"Breastfeeding practices of women to their neonates: A perspective from Bangladeshi women"
Mst. Farhana Akter

37 neonates die per 1,000 live births in Bangladesh. One of the main causes of these deaths is malnutrition. Adequate and proper breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, and complementary feeding are the easiest and necessary ways to feed neonates to improve their nutritional status and make them healthy. A survey was conducted to identify the breastfeeding practices of Bangladeshi women for their neonates, who were randomly selected from the four districts (Gaibandha, Kurigram, Thakurgaon, and Jamalpur) of Bangladesh. Results of the survey show that most of the women of Bangladesh breastfeed their neonates within one hour of delivery. This percentage is 89 percent, but at the same time 1 percent of women breastfeed neonates after three hours of their birth. Ninety-four percent of mothers give colostrum to their neonates immediately after birth. Though exclusive breastfeeding is very much necessary, a large number of mothers (55%) give their neonates complementary drink other than breast milk within three days of their delivery. Among them, 22 percent of mothers give milk other than breast milk, 12 percent of mothers give sugar water, and the rest of the mothers give sugar/glucose water, infant formula, juice, etc. with the breast milk. Study findings show that only 2 percent of women breastfeed their child for more than 15 months, and 40 percent of mothers breastfeed their child for one to five months. Analysis indicates that level of education and exposure to media increases exclusive breastfeeding. Efforts such as awareness on breastfeeding among women will improve breastfeeding practices.

Learning areas

• Social and behavioral sciences
  
  

Learning objectives

• At the end of the session, the participants will be able to discuss the breastfeeding practices of Bangladeshi women, which is very important for a healthy neonate and child.

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Offsite link: APHA 2011 conference Web site

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