Practices and Approach of Mothers in the Initiation of Breast Feeding among Tribals and Non-Tribals, Chhattisgarh, India: Evidence from India’s RCH-3 (2007-2008)

Ashok Kumar, Population Council

The study aims to throw light on the practices related to breast-feeding in the tribal and non-tribal women in Chhattisgarh. The analysis of the data reveals that there exists substantial differences in the variables studied for breast-feeding practices in the tribals and non-tribals, particularly discarding of colostrums, in the initiation of breast-feeding within two hours of birth, same day after two hours of birth, one to three days or after three days of birth alongwith the frequency of breast feeding. Discarding of colostrums, though practiced by tribals and non-tribals both, it is more prevalent in non-tribals. The variations found in tribals and non-tribals are well identified when the data are analyzed according to the different background characteristics. To be more precise the study shows that by and large, there is an inverse relationship between birth order, sex, education, SLI and duration of breast - feeding.