Vol. 1, Issue 2, Part A (2019)

Introduction: Breastfeeding is a special gift from a mother to her baby. It is the normal way of providing young infants with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. To achieve millennium development goals, it is expected to reduce the neonatal mortality by two third of present rate. A newborn baby has only three demands. They are warmth in the arms of its mother, food from her breasts and security in the knowledge of her presence. Breastfeeding satisfies all three. Material and Method: A quasi experimental study using posttest comparison group design was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of educational package on breastfeeding in terms of knowledge, attitude and practices among sixty primi mothers selected by using purposive sampling technique in selected Hospitals of District Ambala, Haryana. Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice was done by using structured knowledge questionnaire, attitude scale, observational checklist and reliability was 0.65, 0.87, and 0.96 respectively. Educational package I was administered at latent phase of labour and educational package II was administered to the mother postnatal. Mother was supported for correct technique till the time she gained proficiency and gave one correct demonstration for breast feeding. Posttest for knowledge and attitude was taken on second day and posttest for practice was taken on third day after delivery. Follow up was done on 6th week through telephonic interview method. Findings: Findings of the study indicated that mean knowledge score (20.63+4.08), mean attitude score (38.57+4.85) and mean practice score (16.73+1.96) in the experimental group was significantly higher than mean knowledge score (11.53+4.61), mean attitude score (28.83+5.62), mean practice score (11.93+4.06) respectively in the comparison group. Positive non-significant correlation was found between knowledge, attitude and practice score of primi mothers in the experimental group. Findings also indicated that period of gestation, type of family, income of family had impact on knowledge whereas type of family, place of residence, income of family had impact on attitude of primi mothers in experimental group. Results of the follow up showed that all of the mothers in the experimental group were still giving breast milk to the new born babies where as in the comparison group, 30% of the mothers had started giving top feeds to the new born babies stating the reason of non-suckling behavior of the baby and reduced lactation.