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  • Title: Knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding infant feeding among mother substitutes.
    Author: Jethi SC, Shrivastava DK.
    Journal: Indian Pediatr; 1987 Oct; 24(10):921-5. PubMed ID: 3448014.
    Abstract:
    With more women entering the workforce, the issue of infant nutrition has become more complex. Mother surrogates, or substitutes, are increasingly taking over the responsibility of infant care. 80 mother substitutes, aged 7-70, were interviewed in Jabalpur town, India, from October 1983-July 1984. Substitutes originated from nuclear families consisting of grandmothers, aunts, elder sisters, brothers, and servants. They were questioned concerning breast feeding, top milk initiation, feeding technique, and weaning. Results pointed to a variety of opinions on feeding practices and nutrition. 50% of younger mother substitutes and the majority of older, uneducated ones believed in initiating breast feeding from the 2nd day onward. 50% of young and 64% of older substitutes did not consider giving colostrum, and various reasons why are cited. 20% of all and 42% of highly educated substitutes were aware of the advantages of breast feeding. 65% of young and 60% uneducated did not know age of initiation of top milk. 45% advocated bottle feeding, with 25% preferring spoon feeding. With regard to "tinned milk" 40% did not use it, 25% were unaware of it, and of 30% using tinned milk, only 1/3 knew the correct technique of reconstitution. The majority of young and uneducated substitutes thought proper weaning age to be after 6 months. 50%, aged 21-40 years, believed in adding solid food from below 6 months. 90% of the young mother substitutes were against solids being introduced by the age of 4 months. A majority of the substitutes suggested weaning foods such as dal, rice, roti, and biscuits with a few considering tinned cereals as proper weaning foods. This response may point to the reason why protein and energy deficiency may be observed around weaning age in many infants throughout the 3rd world.
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