ASSESS THE BREASTFEEDING PRACTICES OF MOTHERS AND THUMB SUCKING HABITS OF CHILDREN IN SELECTED ANGENVADIES UNDER CHALAKUDY MUNICIPALITY, THRISSUR, KERALA.

Breastfeeding is the normal way of providing young infants with the nutrients that they need for healthy growth and development. Thumb sucking is a habit which can be seen in children. The literature review provides the information that the thumb sucking habit of the children is associated with the breastfeeding practices of the mothers. A study was conducted to assess the breastfeeding practices of mothers and thumb sucking habits of children in selected angenvadies under Chalakudy Municipality, Thrissur, Kerala. A quantitative non- experimental research approach and descriptive correlation design was used for this study. Objectives of the study were (i) To assess the breastfeeding practices of mothers. (ii) To assess the thumb sucking habits of children (iii) To assess the association between breastfeeding practices of mothers and thumb sucking habits of children.100 children between 2-6 years and their mothers were selected as subjects by using cluster sampling method. Data was gathered by using questionnaire and rating scale. Data analysis was done by descriptive and inferential statistics. Frequency and percentage was used to present the data. Fisher?s exact test was used to find the association between the variables. The result showed that exclusive, predominant and demand breastfeeding percentage was 82%, 18% and13% respectively. Complimentary breastfeeding percentage was 17%, 67%, and 16% by the 4th, 6th and 8th month respectively. There is an association between exclusive (Fisher?s exact value was 16.565), predominant (Fisher?s exact value was 8.135) and complimentary (Fisher?s exact value was 8.487) breastfeeding practices of mothers with thumb sucking habits of children and no association found between demand(Fisher?s exact value was 1.713) breastfeeding and thumb sucking habit.