Sociodemographic Characteristics and Breastfeeding Practices of Urban Women in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

A cross-sectional, descriptive study was done in the Department of Community Medicine, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM), Dhaka, Bangladesh, between January and December of 2017, to evaluate the status of the breastfeeding practices among mothers living in urban communities. We interviewed a total of 277 working mothers in Dhaka city, who had at least one child aged between two and three years, based on a pre-tested and semi-structured questionnaire. We collected their sociodemographic and breastfeeding related information. 188(67.9%) were in the 18–30 years age group, followed by 31–40 years age group 68(24.5%, and >40 years age group 21(7.6%). Most of them completed their bachelor degrees106(38.3%), followed by HSC 66(23.8%), SSC 28(10.1%), masters 27(9.7%), and primary education 26(9.4%). However, 24(8.7%) did not get any formal education. The majority of them were homemakers 236(85.2%), followed by service holders 21(7.6%), housemaids 14(5.1%) and students 6(2.2%). 190(68.6%) lived in nuclear family, while 87(31.4%) lived in joint family. The majority 241(87.0%) of the respondents first fed their babies with breast milk (colostrum), followed by honey 26(9.4%) and misri (sugar) mixed water 7(2.5%). Most of the respondents 223(80.5%) practised exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), i.e., only breast milk up to the age of completed 6 month. Among those who did not practise EBF, 46(16.6%) fed their babies with formula milk powder and 8(2.9%) used dairy milk. Most of the respondents 251(90.6%) continued to breastfeed their babies along with complementary food even after completion of 6 months, while 190(68.6%) continued to breastfeed their babies up to 2 years.  Higher rates of EBF were associated with age and occupation (p<0.01); however, no association was observed with education and family type (p>0.05).  

CBMJ 2026 July: Vol. 15 No. 02 P:179-184