A study was conducted to assess exclusive breast-feeding, continued breast-feeding, bottle-feeding, predominant breast-feeding, timely complementary feeding and other breast-feeding practices in 818 children in the age group of 0-3 years belonging to the Schedule Caste communities of Haryana. The exclusive breast-feeding rate was 0.15 and the predominant breast-feeding rate 0.75 in children < 4 months. Timely complementary feeding rate was 0.42. The continued breast-feeding rate at 1 year and 2 years was 0.84 and 0.58, respectively. The bottle-feeding rate, ever breast-fed rate, timely first-suckling rate and exclusive breast-feeding rate by mother were 0.09, 1.0, 0.0 and 0.15, respectively. The median duration of breast-feeding was 16 months.
PIP: Data on 818 children aged 0-3 years belonging to the schedule caste population from 44 villages in Faridabad and Hisar districts of Haryana State, India, were analyzed to determine the current status of breast feeding practices in this underprivileged population. All the children had been breast fed. The exclusive breast feeding rate during the first 4 months of life was only 15%. Even though water intake increases the risk of diarrhea, mothers supplemented breast feeding with water in 85% of children to improve hydration status. 98% of the children were given ghutti (an herbal decoction) to improve their digestive abilities. The median duration of breast feeding was 16 months. 2% of infants aged less than 1 year received infant formula. Overall, bottle feeding rate among this age group was 9%. 75% of infants aged less than 4 months were predominantly breast fed. 42% of infants aged 6-9 months received supplementary feedings. 84% of children aged 12-15 months were still breast feeding at 12 months. The timely first-suckling rate was zero. Other baseline surveys should be conducted in other areas of India so breast feeding promotional programs can be evaluated.