Introduction: Majority of child deaths occur in infancy and early
childhood period. Irrespective of best possible healthcare services
provided, the mortality still remains high. The objective of this
study was to determine the care practices among mothers with
child upto 6 months of age.
Material and Methods: A community based cross sectional study
carried out in the field practice area of department of community
medicine from September 2013 to November 2013. In this study
60 mothers of infants upto 6 months of age were interviewed.
A semi structured pretested questionnaire was used. The
questionnaire included information about the infant, background
characteristics of mother, and questions on various care practices.
Data was analysed using appropriate statistical software. Results
were expressed in percentages.
Results:-The percentage of babies not fed with colostrum was
40%. Prelacteal feed given in 98.33%. Initiation of breastfeeding
within one hour reported by 10 % of mothers. 5% babies bathed
immediately after birth. Exclusive breastfeeding in 26.66%.
All deliveries took place at health care institutions with 98.5%
in government run hospitals while 1.5% in private institutes.
77.5% of the infants were born out of normal delivery with 22.5%
caesarean sections.
Conclusion:- This study found unawareness among mothers
regarding safe infant care practices