A study on breast feeding and weaning practices was carried out in a sample of 57 lactating mothers of rural community. Although early start and prolonged breast feeding was an universal practise, but timely weaning was neglected and offered to 54.5% of infants only. On the contrary, introduction of artificial milk to young infants was a culturally accepted baby feeding.
PIP: A cross-sectional investigation into the breast feeding and weaning practices of lactating mothers in 2 randomly selected villages in Sonarpur Block of South 24-Parganas district of West Bengal was conducted from June 1, 1990, to July 31, 1990. 57 lactating mothers were sampled and found to universally practice early and prolonged breast feeding. Although 52.6% of infants were offered sweet water and only 24.6% were offered breast milk as first feed, all 57 were put on breast milk within 24 hours of delivery. Maternal illness was primarily responsible for 8.8% of the infants being withdrawn from breast milk during the first 6 months of infancy. All 26 infants older than 6 months continued to receive breast milk. Timely weaning, however, was neglected and offered to only 54.5% of infants. The introduction of artificial milk to young infants was culturally accepted and practiced in 35 cases. 77.2% of these subjects received such milk before reaching 6 months of age; the introduction took place in 62.9% of cases due to insufficiencies of maternal breast milk.