Breastfeeding Practices of Women to their Neonates: A Perspective from Bangladeshi Women

37 neonates die per one thousand live births in Bangladesh. One of the main causes of these deaths is malnutrition in Bangladesh. Adequate and proper breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding and complimentary feeding are the easiest and necessary ways to feed the neonates to improve their nutritional status and make them healthy. A survey was conducted to identify the breastfeeding practices of Bangladeshi women to their neonates, who were randomly selected from the four districts (Gaibandha, Kurigram, Thakurgaon and Jamalpur) of Bangladesh. Result of the survey shows that, most of the women of Bangladesh breastfeed their neonates within one hour of their delivery. This percentage is 89 percent but at the same time one percent women breastfeed neonate after three hours of their birth. 94 percent mother give colostrum to their neonates immediately after their child birth. Though exclusive breastfeeding is very much necessary, a large number of mothers (55%) give their neonates complementary drink other than breast milk within three days of their delivery. Among them, 22 percent mother give milk other than breast milk, 12 percent mother give sugar water and rests of the mother give sugar/glucose water, infant formula, juice, etc with the breast milk. Study findings show that, only 2 percent women breastfeeding their child for more than fifteen months and 40 percent mother breastfeeding their child for one to five months. Analysis indicates that level of education and exposure to media increases the exclusive breastfeeding. Efforts such as awareness on breastfeeding among women will improve breastfeeding practices.