Valora la calidad de las actividades de Aprendizaje Servicio que han realizado ( donde 5 representa el valor más alto) :

Scheduled Tribe

The majority of women in this group gave colostrum and breastfed their infants immediately after birth.

“I started breastfeeding immediately after delivery, I gave the first milk also. ” BRIST2, 25 years, no formal schooling.

Eight women reported that they delayed the start of breastfeeding by one day. Four of them expressed the colostrum. The reason given for this was that it was thick and sticky and that it would bother the baby’s stomach, another reason given was to make more milk come. Four women gave their babies castor oil after birth and no colostrum. Most were breastfed exclusively after this.

“I started breastfeeding after a gap of one day. I threw the colostrum because it is very thick, then I started breastfeeding. ” BRIST22, 22 years, 8 years formal schooling.

Complementary feeding started quite late. The earliest age of introduction to solids was seven months. They believed in introducing solid foods when the children sit, stand and run around.

“Small children breastfeed, so we don 7 start solid foods until they sit up and run around. The first foods we offer are ragi, or rice with lentils mashed with salt." BRISTl8, 46 years, no formal

schooling.

“We start foods when the baby is running around, we wait for the babies to get fat on breastmilk then we start foods". BRIST3, 24 years, 3 years formal schooling.

They felt that children breastfed until then, so the introduction of solids was delayed. Only one or two women admitted to actively trying to offer their child solid food before the age of one year. Most children started eating solids at one year or eighteen months, some even started as late as 2.5 years. Some mentioned that they delayed starting solids because people around them told them not to. One woman said that introducing food early made babies fat and unhealthy. They felt that breastmilk was best for children, children breastfed for as long as they wanted up to four years and they fed on demand.

The first foods offered were biscuits, bread, rice or ragi; rice mashed with salt was also mentioned. Children were fed 2-3x a day and on demand, Most said there were no food restrictions and children were offered the same foods as adults, including fruits and vegetables. A few women said bananas

were not given because they were considered “cold foods”. One woman said she offered her child kanji (a hot drink made with millet, sugar and water).

Scheduled Caste

There was a lot of variation in child feeding practices. All the infants were breastfed, but breastfeeding initiation was delayed and prelacteal feeds were given. Only a few mothers breastfed immediately after birth, offered colostrum, gave no prelacteal feeds, and started solids by six months of age. The majority of women threw the colostrum, and gave prelacteal feeds for the first 1-3 days. The feeds given at this time were either sugar water or castor oil. Then breastfeeding was initiated. Colostrum was not given because they thought the thick milk was bad for the baby.

“I started breastfeeding on the third day. I gave the baby castor oil until then. I expressed the first milk and threw that - because it is thick milk, it is bad for the baby, so we don’t give it. ” BISC3, 26 years, 3 years formal schooling.

Introduction to solids was most often delayed and children were between 8 months and 2 years of age when solids were introduced, the majority being older than 1 year. The reasons for the late onset of weaning were that children breastfed till then; breastmilk was enough; children did not want other foods, they wanted breastmilk. It appears as though children were not coaxed to eat solids by most families - a mother might have tried to offer food, if the child refused she would take that as a sign that the child was not ready and would not try again.

“7 breastfed until my child was 2 years old, then I started solidfoods. People said if you gave food the child would become thin, so don’t start wait for some time. ” KOISC5, 30 years, no formal schooling. The first foods offered were biscuits, rice, bread and milk. Then all adult foods were offered. But the variety of adult foods offered was small - this could include rice/ragi with a lentil stew, but the diet excluded fruit, vegetables and meat, consumption of dairy products was low in general, given the high cost. Fruits, vegetables and yogurt were considered “cold” foods and were thought to cause illness in children. Children were fed 2-3 times a day and on demand.

Backward Caste

Some women breastfed their babies immediately after birth and gave colostrum; some threw the colostrum and offered prelacteal feeds for the first 1-5 days. Most started breastfeeding after the third day. The main prelacteal feeds given included sugar water and castor oil, one mother said she gave her child gripe water.

‘‘For my first two children I started breastfeeding after 3 days, I gave them sugar water until then. For my last two children, I started breastfeeding them right away. I gave all of them the first milk, I didn ’t express it. " KOIKMl, 43 years, 4 years formal schooling.

Those who threw colostrum thought that it was too thick for the baby and would make the baby sick. Some said it was not good for the baby.

Introduction to solids ranged from 3 months to greater than 2 years of age. Most mothers offered food from 9 months to 1.5 years onwards. The reasons given for this were that children breastfed until then and showed no interest in other foods. If a baby showed interest in other foods, they were offered sooner. The first foods offered included biscuits, rice with butter and salt, dosai, idli, and upitu. Then children were offered all adult foods and had the same diet.

"When my child was a year old, I started feeding him solid foods. I gave him rice with a lentil broth and biscuits. ” BIK4,20 years, no formal schooling.

Children were fed on demand 3-4 times a day. In some cases a few women reported offering fruit including banana, grapes, and guava. But most offered mainly the staple foods. A reasonable number of mothers in this group appeared to have good breastfeeding practices and appropriate weaning practices. Children were breastfed for as long as they wanted up to 2 years or more.

Table 3.6 Breastfeeding initiation practices and complementary feeding

ST

sc

Breastfeeding initiation practices Breastfeeding onset immediately after birth Breastfeeding onset after 1-3 days Colostrum given without prelacteal feeds Colostrum given with prelacteal feeds

Colostrum not given with prelacteal feeds

No colostrum and no prelacteal feeds Age at introduction of solids ^6 mos__________ 6 - 1 2 m o s _______ > 12 mos

Box 3.11 Women's focus groups and group interviews: breastfeeding and child