BACKGROUND: Early initiation of breastfeeding (within an hour of birth) had found to decrease neonatal
mortality by 22%. This is very vital for health and survival of newborn, more so in India where incidence of Low
Birth Weight baby is high. An attempt was made to find out early infant feeding practice and its determinants in the
Jamnagar district area in present study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Present study was a part of a crosssectional
study conducted during October 2011 to March 2012. Total 225 recent delivered women were asked for
the infant feeding practices. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview women, chosen for the
study using multistage random sampling technique and data was analysed by Epi Info and Microsoft Excel.
RESULTS: About 35.1% women had initiated breast feeding within 1 hour of delivery, while 64.9% women had
started breast feeding after 1 hour. Majority of women (91.1%) answered that they had given colostrums while was
not given by 8%. 52.4% women had delivered in government hospital and 34.6% in private hospital, while 13 %
women had home delivery. About 85% women had vaginal delivery and 15% women delivered by cesarean
section. Women who delivered in government hospital and women who had normal delivery were some positively
associated factors with early infant feeding practices. CONCLUSION: In this study early infant feeding practices
were found very low. More awareness should be generated and sincere efforts should be made to increase correct
infant feeding practices.