Infant feeding-Knowledge and attitudes in a rural area of Karnataka

A study of the knowledge and attitute towards infant feeding was conducted in South India on a group of 300 mothers whose babies' ages from 3 days to 17 months. Most of the mothers opined that breast-feeding had to be initiated within 24 hours of birth. However, only 32% felt that breast milk should be the first feed, whereas 68% considered prelacteal feeds a necessity. 71% of the mothers considered 3 to 5 months to be the optimum duration of exclusive breast-feeding. 90% felt that cow's milk was an ideal supplement. 78.3% subscribed to the view that breast-feeding should continue beyond one year. A sizeable proportion expressed the need to discontinue breast-feeds during babies' or matemal illness, particularly diarrhoea. Our results will form the babies of the content and the target groups in our future health education programme.