Impact of Number of Prenatal Visits on Breastfeeding Practices

Authors

  • Aliya Nasim
  • Farhan Saeed
  • Farzana Azhar
  • Erum Saboohi

Keywords:

Prenatal visits, antenatal care, breastfeeding practices, lactation, exclusive breastfeeding, frequency of ANC

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of several prenatal visits on breastfeeding practices during the first six months of infant life.

METHODOLOGY: This prospective cohort study was conducted in Darul-sehat Hospital Karachi from August 2021 to July 2022 among pregnant females (36-40 weeks of gestation) regardless of their parity. Multiple pregnancy, intrauterine fetal death and medical disorders were excluded. A Convenient Non-probability sampling technique is used for the selection of participants. Participants were divided into three groups according to their number of prenatal visits. <4, 4-8, >8 and followed three times after childbirth to assess their breastfeeding practices. The first follow-up was done within 48 hours of delivery, the second at three months, and the third after six months of delivery. Each visit is assessed for three breastfeeding practices: exclusive, mixed, or bottle feeding. SPSS version 23 was used for analysis.

RESULTS: Two hundred ten participants were interviewed. 78.6% were well-informed about breastfeeding during antenatal visits. Mean antenatal clinic visits of studied samples were 6 (6 -8).7.1% were found with less than four antenatal visits, 68.1% with 4-8 visits, and only 24.8% had more than eight antenatal clinic visits. The percentage of exclusive feeding is highest in group 3 (>8 visits) i,e; 52.3%, followed by 43% in 4-8 visits and lowest at 4.7%  in < 4 antenatal clinic visits samples.

CONCLUSION: More antenatal visits favorably influence BF practices regarding the commencement and continuation of breastfeeding.

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Published

28-12-2023

How to Cite

1.
Nasim A, Saeed F, Azhar F, Saboohi E. Impact of Number of Prenatal Visits on Breastfeeding Practices. J Liaq Uni Med Health Sci [Internet]. 2023 Dec. 28 [cited 2024 Nov. 15];22(04):260-6. Available from: http://121.52.154.205/index.php/jlumhs/article/view/1125