STUDY OF BREAST FEEDING PRACTICES AMONG WORKING AND NON WORKING WOMEN ATTENDING A MATERNITY CARE HOSPITAL, THIRUVALLUR DISTRICT, TAMILNADU, INDIA.

The breast milk is the best milk for the baby. In this fast growing world, the burden of employment of working women during their breast feeding period greatly affects their breast feeding practices. So in order to study the breast feeding practices of both working and non working women ,a cross sectional study among working and Non working breastfeeding practices was attempted . Methods: This was the institutional based study carried out in Vijaya Hospital, a maternity care hospital at Thiruvallur District. A convenient sampling was carried out . Among the total sample size of 172, 60 were working mothers and 112 were non working mothers . A structured questionnaire was given to them and the data obtained was subjected to the analysis The results were given as descriptive statistics and a Proportionality test was carried out. Results: Nearly 65% of working women practices pre lacteal feed and 70% of working women practices formula milk. Nearly 41.7% of working women had experienced breast pain which may due to delay in breast feeding depending on their burden of work. Nearly 51.7% of infants of working women had cough,35% of infants had cold, 11.7% of infants had fever respectively. After performing Proportionality tests, the results are the practices among working and non working women relating to pre lacteal feeds ,colostrum and formula milk are not same. Conclusion: Therefore this study has brought out the breast feeding practices among working and Non working women which is mainly due to the burden of work that working women and its impact over the health of their infants. The increased burden of employment is the main reason of the difference in the breast feeding practices among working and Non working women. This study has brought into light and educate the mothers about the benefits of breast feeding for baby.