Determinants of Prelacteal Feeding Among Infants of RS Pura Block of Jammu and Kashmir, India

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of various factors in determining prelacteal feeding in block R.S. Pura of district Jammu. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A stratified two-stage design with villages as the primary sampling unit and lactating mothers as the secondary sampling unit. Villages were divided into different clusters on the basis of population and sampling units were selected by a simple random technique. RESULTS: Giving prelacteal feed is almost universal with 88% of mothers feeding their children with prelacteal feeds. Income seemed to have significant effect on the preference of prelacteal feeds with low income groups showing lower preference for giving prelacteal feeds. CONCLUSION: The study showed, interalia, that a poor knowledge regarding infant feeding practice was prevalent among mothers.