Assessment of Breastfeeding Practices During Febrile Illness Among Mothers of Infants: Insights From Urban Slums of Bhubaneswar

TL;DR

The study explores how mothers in urban slums in Bhubaneswar continue or stop breastfeeding during fevers and finds that many lack awareness about its importance.

Contribution

The study provides insights into breastfeeding practices during febrile illness in low-literacy urban slum populations.

Findings

Around 27% of mothers lacked awareness about continuing breastfeeding during febrile illness.

Educational status and family type were significantly associated with breastfeeding discontinuation.

94% of mothers sought health care within 48 hours of illness onset.

Abstract

Background and aim: Breastmilk contains all the essential nutrients for growth and immunological factors for the protection of the baby against various diseases, which should not be discontinued unless contraindicated or advised by the doctor under specific conditions. In urban slums, where literacy levels are low and awareness is limited, the lack of knowledge about the importance of continuing breastfeeding during minor febrile illnesses may act as a barrier to breastfeeding. Therefore, this study was conducted among mothers of infants living in urban slums. This study aimed to assess the perceptions of mothers with infants regarding breastfeeding and their practices during any febrile illness, either of themselves or their baby, to identify associated factors and evaluate their health-seeking behavior during such episodes.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 consenting mothers of infants below one year in the field practice area of a medical college. The study participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique using a computer-generated random number table. Those satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured, pre-tested questionnaire. Data were coded, entered in an Excel sheet (Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corp.), and analyzed using Epi Info software version 7.2.6.0 (Atlanta, GE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Data were interpreted in frequencies and percentages; the association was tested by the chi-square test and F-test, wherever applicable, and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The mean age of mothers was 22±3.21 years. The awareness regarding the continuum of breastfeeding during febrile illness of either the mother and/or the baby was lacking in around 27 (27%) respondents; 4 (4%) mothers perceived that breastfeeding might transfer infection to the baby and discontinued it. The educational status of the mother and type of family were found to be statistically significantly associated with the discontinuation of breastfeeding (p=0.009 and 0.010, respectively). The health-seeking behavior was found to be good in around 94 (94%) mothers.

Conclusion: Around 73% of the mothers perceived that breastfeeding should be continued during febrile illness and around 20% of them thought that illness transfers the infection from the mother to the baby which resulted in discontinuation of the same in some. The type of family was one of the identified associated factors of breastfeeding where residents of nuclear families were more aware of breastfeeding than the residents of joint families. Health-seeking behavior was found to be within the first 48 hours among 94% of the study participants.

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