COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF INFANT FEEDING PRACTICES IN URBAN COMMUNITIES: A CROSS SECTIONAL SURVEY IN PUNJAB AND CHANDIGARH

Background: Optimal infant and young child feeding practices are critical for child survival, growth, and long-term health outcomes. Despite national efforts, breastfeeding behaviors vary across regions due to socio-cultural and demographic factors. This study evaluated and compared key breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in urban communities of Chandigarh and Jalandhar (Punjab). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a multi-stage sampling design among 340 eligible mothers with children under one year of age (160 from Jalandhar, 180 from Chandigarh). Data on socio-demographic characteristics, breastfeeding practices, and complementary feeding were collected through structured face-to-face interviews. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0 using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Results: Overall, 64.7% of mothers initiated breastfeeding within one hour of birth, 80.3% fed colostrum to their newborns, and 52.9% practiced prelacteal feeding. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) practice was low at 22.6%. Timely initiation of complementary feeding was reported by 37.6% of participants. In Chandigarh study reported higher rates for early initiation (67.8% vs. 61.3%), colostrum feeding (81.1% vs. 79.4%), and timely complementary feeding (41.1% vs. 33.8%). Conversely, exclusive breastfeeding rate was higher in Jalandhar (26.3% vs. 19.4%). However, none of these city-wise differences were statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Although early initiation of breastfeeding and colostrum administration rates was relatively high, low exclusive breastfeeding and widespread prelacteal feeding persist in both urban settings. These findings highlight the need for targeted community-based health education interventions to address traditional feeding misconceptions and promote optimal infant feeding practices.