Introduction: Breastfeeding is the ideal food for meeting the psychological and physiological needs
during infancy and early childhood period. The health status of slum children is worst among all
urban groups, due to faulty infant feeding practices, impaired utilization of nutrients due to infection,
inadequate food intake and health security, poor environmental conditions and lack of proper child care
practices. Therefore, this study aims to assess the awareness and practice regarding health promotion of
under-five children residing in urban slum area.
Methods: House hold survey was conducted from 2013-12-30 to 2014-1-29 by using purposive sampling
technique used as semi-structured interview schedule. 90 mothers having children aged less than 5years
were selected for the study from Thapathali to sankhamul slum areas. Obtained data was analyzed by
using descriptive statistics.
Results: All mothers were aware about breast-feeding where 98.8% mothers practiced on their children.
92.3% of them knew that initiation of breast milk secretion occurs soon after child birth but 81%
mothers had initiated it within one hour of birth. 96.7% had idea on importance of colostrums and
was fed by 97.8% mothers. 11% mothers gave prelactal feeding. 95.6% were aware of demand feeding
where 97.8% practiced it. 74.4% knew the meaning of exclusive breast feeding but only 17% practiced
exclusive breastfeeding till 5- 6 months, and 72% had practiced predominant feeding with breast milk.
98% mothers were practicing night feeds and 92.1% had breastfed even during child’s sickness. 97.7% of
the mother were aware of the complementary feeding, and 75.5% of mothers knew the appropriate time
to start it but only 59% mothers had started complementary food at appropriate time of 5-6 months.
97.7% of mothers were aware and practiced immunization to their children. 97.7% of babies received
BCG and 95.5% received polio and DPT vaccines.
Conclusion: Study concludes that slum areas’ mothers were aware and practice regarding health
promotion of under 5 was found adequate. However they had lack of proper awareness in appropriate
time of starting complimentary food and use of predominant feeding with breastfeeding.