Aim: To evaluate the knowledge of breast feeding and its practices in Sialkot
Settings: Islam Teaching Hospital by Department of Paediatrics Islam Medical College, Sialkot
Duration of study: from 1st January 2016 to 31st March 2016.
Results: A total of 167 mothers were interviewed. 150 were included in the study. 76(50.7%) were
male and 74(49.3%) were female children. 115(76.7%) were residing in rural area and 35(23.3%) were
coming from urban area. The doctor counseled 30(20%) mothers regarding breast feeding, 105(70%)
by the relatives and rest(9.3%) by the lady health workers. 13(8.6%) mothers did not breast feed their
children at all. 20(13.3%) mother knew that breast feeding should be started within 1st hr of birth. Only
13(8.6%) mothers had breast fed their children in first hour of birth. 47(31.3%) mothers breast fed their
babies on first day. Only 9 mothers who had LSCS, had breastfed their babies on first day. 90(60%)
mothers had breastfed their children on 2nd day or later, of these 4 had vaginal delivery and rest by
LSCS. 146(97.3%) mothers considered colostrums to be healthy. 103 mothers (68.66%) initiated with
exclusive breast feeding. 31(20.66%) children were breast fed only for six months and 20(13.3%)
beyond six months, while in 52(34.66%) children exclusive breast feeding was stopped before six
months of age. 91.3% were ever given breast feed 47(31.3%) children were never exclusively
breastfed and bottle feeding was started since birth. 21(14%) of the children were never given bottle
feed. 95(63.3%) mothers used buffalo/cow milk for bottle feeding and of these 53(35.33%) used diluted
milk to feed the child.
Conclusion: Most of the results in our study are near to the national survey. The knowledge and
practice of early breast feeding was very poor. There are variations in different national studies
depending on the area, socioeconomic status and regional taboos. Comparing to the international
statistics of breast feeding knowledge and practices we are lag far behind and a lot of effort needs to
be put in.