Infant feeding patterns in slums of Bangalore

10% of the Anganwadis population from the Bangalore Urban Block 1055 families were interviewed in a study of infant feeding practices prevailing traditions and customs and the effect of urban slums. A great need for health education nutritional education and an increase in female literacy were found in addition to improvements in the general social welfare of the families. Although breast milk and honey were commonly chosen for the 1st feeds of infants some cases of delayed breast feeding were reported due to a superstitious belief that a mother cannot lactate before the 2nd day or that the colostrum may be harmful to the infant. Sometimes ceremonies were performed to mark the beginning of breast feeding. Despite the overall poor diet of the mothers most of the mothers did not begin supplemental feeding until the 7-12 month period. 90.8% of the mothers were ignorant to supplementary feeding practices and had therefore started such feeding practices late. Most of the mothers were laborers who left the children to surrogates. 2 other unhealthy practices cited were the use of diluted milk and the use of unclean utensils.