Correlates of Breastfeeding in Villages and Tea-Gardens in Assam, India.

Objective: To observe and compare breastfeeding practices in villages and tea-gardens.

Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study among mothers of infants in a health and demographic surveillance site in Dibrugarh, Assam.

Results: 1435 mothers (855 from tea-gardens, 580 from villages); and 1437 infants (857 from tea-gardens, 580 from villages), were included in study. Mean maternal age was 25.1 (4.4) years in tea-gardens and 25.8 (4.9) years in villages. Timely initiation of breastfeeding was higher in villages (82.6%) than tea-gardens (76.4%). Feeding colostrum was higher in villages (71.2%) than tea-gardens (60.8%).

Discussion: Factors affecting breastfeeding were different in villages and tea-gardens. Timely initiation of breastfeeding was associated with nuclear family in villages and joint family in tea-gardens. Hence, interventions promoting breastfeeding practices should be tailored instead of one-size-fits-all approach.