A Cross-Sectional Study On The Factors Affecting Breastfeeding Timeline And Its Impact On Child Development.

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding is a mammalian technique where an infant receives the mother's breast milk, providing them with calories and nutrients. It is considered the "gold standard" nutritional source for humans during the first few months of postnatal life. The American Academy of Pediatrics and World Health Organization recommend against formula feeding after six months of exclusive breastfeeding and to continue breastfeeding for at least two years, or longer if both parties consent. METHOD: A Cross-sectional study was conducted for 6 months in a tertiary care hospital, involving 150 women. Data was collected through a data collection form and stress was analyzed by using Chisquare test. RESULTS: The major factors that are affecting breast feeding were insufficient milk production, working status of women and lack of awareness on breast feeding. Women who breastfed children for at least a year had better memory and less diseased, while non-breastfeeding children were more susceptible. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that a higher number of participants were pregnant in the 15- 20 age group, and disrupting breastfeeding can be due to factors such as excessive workload, inadequate milk production, lack of nursing knowledge, lactose sensitivity, and health concerns. The study also highlights the correlation between a child's development, nursing experience, frequency of breastfeeding, and immunity. Extended periods of not breastfeeding were linked to increased risk of infectious infections, growth issues, developmental abnormalities, and cognitive difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]