Published Paper Details:

An exploratory study to assess the prevalence and factors associated with breast milk substitute among postnatal mothers in selected hospital Ranchi with a view to develop an information booklet regarding exclusive breast feeding OBJECTIVES- 1. To find out prevalence of breast milk substitute among postnatal mothers. 2. To investigate preferred breast milk substitute feeding among postnatal mothers. 3. To explore the factors associated with breast milk substitute feeding among postnatal mothers 4. To find out association of breast milk substitute among postnatal mothers with their selected socio demographic variables PROJECTEDOUTCOME/HYPOTHESIS- H0 - There will be no significant association between breast milk substitute among postnatal mothers with their selected socio demographic variables. H1 - There will be significant association between breast milk substitute among postnatal mothers with their selected socio demographic variables. For thepresent studydescriptive researchdesign:-isutilized to achieve the statedobjective . The study was basedon the conceptual framework of health belief model is to assess the prevalence and factors associated with breast milk substitute among postnatal mothers. Anquantitative researchapproachis used pilot studywas conducted toconfirm the feasibility of the study and determine the reliability of the tool.Formain studyconsecutive sampling wasdoneon100 sampleof postnatal mothers of inselectedhospitals of Ranchi. The tool used for data collection consists of self structured check list for demographic data and factors associated with substitute breast feeding. A formal written permission was obtained from the Director,of District Maternal and Child Hospital Ranchi. Data collection for the study was carried out from 2/11/22 to 28/11/22.The investigator first introduces her self to the respondents and explain the purpose of gathering information .They were assured that their response would be kept confidential and used only for the purpose of research. The data was analysed using the descriptive and inferential statistics where the result shows. analysis to assess the factors associated with breast milk substitute feeding among postnatal mothers, in physical factors mean (9.09), SD(2.82), emotional factors mean (3.08), SD(1.02), mean score % (61.6%), social factors mean (3.39), SD(1.11), mean score % (56.5%), organizational factors mean (3.21), SD(1.14), mean score % (64.2%), and other mean (2.12), SD(0.8), mean score % (70.67% Findingrelated toassociation between factors associated with breast milk substitute feeding among postnatal mothers of age, educational qualification, occupation of mother, type of family, gravida, parity, characteristics of delivery, weight of baby, and characteristics of baby were socio demographic variables, The calculated value of chi square for occupation of mother (15.61) were significant, while calculated value of chi square for age (2.65), educational qualification (6.71), type of family (0.26), gravida (6.84), parity (2.01), characteristics of delivery (2.37), weight of baby (9.43), characterisitcs of baby (0.97) were not significant. Hence it is concluded that occupation of mother were associated with factors, whereas age, educational qualification, gravida, type of family, parity, weight of baby, characteristics of baby were not associated with level of factors. The study will be a motivation to beginning researcher to conduct similar studiesonthelargescale.Similarstudymaybereplicatedforlargersampleindifferentsettingfor making broad generalization.