Issues related to breastfeeding.
pneumonia, diarrhea
PNEUMONIA
Over time, efforts made by doctors and LHWs to increase awareness and dispel misconceptions has led to a decrease in the prevalent tradition of discarding colostrum. Now, some mothers breastfeed their infants when they have diarrhea and pneumonia and are aware that breastfeeding should be continued for two years. Complementary feeding should ideally be started after six months, but most people in TMK do so after the four months of birth.
There is a clear need for efforts to improve current IYCF practices. The community believed that awareness programs and village committees would be useful in educating women about EBF, colostrum feeding and family planning. They suggested that the elders of the tribes should also be made aware of the benefits of colostrum, and to promote acceptability and uptake of improved health behavior, doctors, LHWs, religious leaders, and landlords should be involved in educating the masses. Additionally, health programs designed to improve the health and nutrition of women in rural TMK should be initiated.