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ABSTRACT: Background: Breastfeeding is an important determinant of child survival. Breastfeeding practices vary throughout the nation. Objectives: To assess the breastfeeding practices and the knowledge of recently delivered mothers regarding breastfeeding practices. Materials and Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among women who had delivered in the Moradabad region of Uttar Pradesh last year. A total of 423 households was divided between the six community health blocks according to probability sampling. A predesigned and pretested structured questionnaire was utilized to collect data. Knowledge scores were calculated. Results: The majority of respondents had the correct knowledge about breastfeeding immediately after birth (76.6%), prelacteal foods should not be provided (82.2%), colostrum feeding (89.0%), adequate frequency of breastfeeding (99.1%), and exclusively breastfeeding (78.7%). The knowledge scores about breastfeeding were good (64.9%) for mothers. A higher proportion of respondents practiced breastfeeding only, or cup fed with breast milk only their babies for the first 2 days of life (62.3%), and the majority fed their baby with adequate frequency. Only (55.7%) put their baby to breast within an hour after birth. Colostrum was not squeezed and thrown by nearly (59.7%) of mothers. The breastfeeding practices scores were good among one-third of mothers. Age of mother, type of family, mother's education, socioeconomic status, and type of delivery were significant determinants of good breastfeeding practices (<0.05). Conclusions: The knowledge and practices of infant feeding can be strengthened by further engaging and counseling of mothers, family, and community members by health workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To analyze whether outcome of neonates having esophageal atresia with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (EA±TEF) associated with anorectal malformation (ARM) can be improved by doing surgery in 2 stages. Materials and Methods: A prospective study of neonates having both EA±TEF and ARM from 2004 to 2011. The patients with favorable parameters were operated in a single stage, whereas others underwent first-stage decompression surgery for ARM. Thereafter, once septicemia was under control and ventilator care available, second-stage surgery for EA±TEF was performed. Results: Total 70 neonates (single stage = 20, 2 stages = 30, expired after colostomy = 9, only EA±TEF repair needed = 11) were enrolled. The admission rate for this association was 1 per 290. Forty-one percent (24/70) neonates had VACTERL association and 8.6% (6/70) neonates had multiple gastrointestinal atresias. Sepsis screen was positive in 71.4% (50/70). The survival was 45% (9/20) in neonates operated in a single stage and 53.3% (16/30) when operated in 2 stages (P = 0.04). Data analysis of 50 patients revealed that the survived neonates had significantly better birth weight, better gestational age, negative sepsis screen, no cardiac diseases, no pneumonia, and 2-stage surgery (P value 0.002, 0.003, 0.02, 0.02, 0.04, and 0.04, respectively). The day of presentation and abdominal distension had no significant effect (P value 0.06 and 0.06, respectively). This was further supported by stepwise logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: In a limited resources scenario, the survival rate of babies with this association can be improved by treating ARM first and then for EA±TEF in second stage, once mechanical ventilator care became available and sepsis was under control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]