WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

*Hansmukh Jain and Fauzia Jawaid Kazi

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Breastfeeding is the safest, cheapest and best protective food for infants. Breast milk contains all the nutrients in the right proportion which are needed for optimum growth and development of the baby up to 6 months .It is easily digestible and provide immunity to the baby. Breastfed baby is less likely to develop infection especially gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infections. Breastfeeding promotes close physical and emotional bondage between mother and baby. It also promotes development of higher intelligence and feeling of security in infant. It reduces the chance of PPH and pregnancy for 6 months, risk of breast and ovarian cancer to the mother. Methodology: The research design was non-experimental descriptive design, sampling technique was convenient sampling, sample size was 60, population was the antenatal mothers visiting the OBG- OPD. Tools used for data collection were demographic proforma and self-structured knowledge questionnaires, setting was OBG-OPD of AIIMS. Results: Data presents that the minimum age is 19 years and maximum age is 32 years, Mean is 24.35 and standard deviation is 2.93. Maximum number of subjects 38.3% were qualified up to graduation, majority of the subjects 86.7% were housewives, maximum number of subjects 81.7% belong to hindu religion, maximum number of subjects 58.3% had prior knowledge about breastfeeding. The 5% of subjects had poor knowledge, whereas 32% of subjects had average knowledge and 63% of subjects had good knowledge regarding breastfeeding. There was association between knowledge regarding exclusive breastfeeding and educational qualification of mother is significant at 0.05 level of significance.