Knowledge and Child Feeding Practices among Young Women and Associated Health Problems of their Children in Urban Slum of Mumbai, India

Background and Aims The period from birth to two years of age is the “critical window” for the promotion of good growth, health, and behavioral development. Hence present paper focuses on the child feeding practices among... [ view full abstract ]

Background and Aims
The period from birth to two years of age is the “critical window” for the promotion of good growth, health, and behavioral development. Hence present paper focuses on the child feeding practices among young mothers of urban slums in Mumbai, India. Further, the study explores the common health problems among the children under two years and treatment seeking behavior.
Methods
Primary data was collected through qualitative methods using structured, semi-structured and open ended questionnaires. Information was collected through focus group discussions, key informant interviews and in-depth interviews from mothers having children below two years.
Results
Respondents are well aware of the exclusive breast feeding practices during the first six months of child birth, and within this period no supplementary food is given to their child. Family members are also well aware about the nutritional food given to the children. For the children aged between 7-24 months, mother starts giving some of the supplementary food (dal water, sattu, boiled mashed fruits, etc.,) to their child. The most common health problems among children (aged 0-24 months) are cold and cough, fever, diarrhea, etc. Due to long waiting time in the public hospitals (where free and low cost treatments are available), young mothers of slums areas prefer to go to private clinics and hospitals instead of government hospitals for the health problems of their children.

Implications
The present study shows that WHO guidelines for breastfeeding are not properly followed in the study population of Mumbai slum. Children are not exclusively breastfed till six months of birth. Children are also lacking supplementary food after six months. Although young mothers are well aware of the WHO guidelines of exclusive breastfeeding, but they feel that it is not sufficient for the growth of their child.