International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience (IJPAB)
Year : 2018, Volume : 6, Issue : 1
First page : (101) Last page : (109)
Article doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.4099
Knowledge of Recommended Weaning Practices Prevalent Among Urban Mothers
Gadhavi Rajshri Ambadan* and Serene Shekhar
1Post Graduate Student and 2Assistant Professor
Department Home Science Extension and Communication Management,
Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Gujarat
*Corresponding Author E-mail: shekhar.sdau@gmail.com
Received: 19.06.2017 | Revised: 26.07.2017 | Accepted: 4.08.2017
ABSTRACT
The present study was conducted in Palanpur Taluka, Banaskantha District of Gujarat State for post graduate thesis in Department Home Science Extension and Communication Management, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University. The aim of the study was to find knowledge of recommended weaning practices among urban mothers. Randomly selected 80 respondents were considered as sample for the study. A pre-structured interview scheduled was used to measure independent variables (age of respondents, age of youngest child, education, caste category, family type, family size, family occupation and mass media exposure) and dependent variable (Knowledge of weaning). The interview schedule was developed by expert jury method. Data was collected by personal interview technique. Statistical analysis was done by computing, frequency, percentage, standard deviation, and correlation co-efficient.The findings revealed that 56.25 per cent of the respondents were having correct weaning knowledge up to medium extend. Only half of the respondents were aware of the fact that weaning should be started only when child reaches six month of age. Merely, 38.75 per cent of the respondents had knowledge that 'weaning means adding other types of food beside breast milk' and only 26.25 per cent of the respondents had knowledge that ‘breast milk should be continued till the child reaches two year of age’. Majority of the respondents (72.50 per cent) had knowledge that weaning should be child led. It was also found that very less percentage of respondents had knowledge regarding the correct age for introduction of weaning food such as: Cow's milk and honey by merely 00.25 per cent of respondents, wheat (five per cent), Pea-nuts (37.25 per cent) and curd (53.75 per cent). It was found that majority of respondents had sufficient knowledge regarding handling the problems like illness, that occur during weaning. It was found that very less per cent of the respondents had knowledge regarding foods to be avoided during weaning. Regarding knowledge about basic hygiene during weaning it was found that 88.75 per cent of the respondents had knowledge regarding "washing the utensil with vim/detergent", but only 67.50 per cent of the respondents had knowledge "one should not wash utensil with mud". It was found that very less per cent of the respondents were gaining information regarding weaning from Doctor (16.25 per cent) and Nurse (10 per cent). Weaning knowledge had positive and significant association with age, education income and mass media. This means that with increase in age, education income and mass media of the respondents weaning knowledge increases. Thus wide publicity should be given to the aspects of weaning through media that could consequently bring change in attitude of the people.
Key words: Weaning, knowledge, urban, mothers, children (06-24 months)
Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782
Cite this article: Ambadan, G.R. and Shekhar, S., Knowledge of Recommended Weaning Practices Prevalent Among Urban Mothers, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci.6(1): 101-109 (2018). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.4099
