Working Women And Infant Care

Breast feeding has been recognised all over the world as the most crucial factor in physical, mental and emotional growth of the child. Breast feeding and weaning practices vary with culture differences and among communities. They are related to the traditional norms, beliefs, socio-economic status and the overall life-style of a particular family, class or culture. There has been a decline in the breast feeding of children, more so in case of working mothers. The natural mother-child interaction process in breast feeding, which is psychologically rewarding to both mother and child, is disturbed. This may lead to emotional problems in the child in later years of life. Government of India has a national programme of family planning. As breast feeding is helpful in delaying pregnancies and spacing of birth of children, there is concern that this practice should be revived. The present book is the outcome of a study sponsored by ICMR. The study is about the problems of breast feeding faced by working mothers in the organised and unorganised sectors so as to evolve policy considerations which will encourage breast feeding.