Gender discrimination in relation to breast feeding practices in rural areas of Bijapur District, Karnataka.

Abstract

Gender is a common term whereas gender discrimination is meant for women, because females are more often the victims. Denial of equality, rights and opportunity and supplement in any form on the basis of gender is gender discrimination. Gender discrimination is due to the attitude and behaviour of the society towards the girl child. The girl child faces the neglect of the family in the form of a failure to provide her the basic necessities of life in terms of food, clothing, love, shelter, supervision, education and medical care. Differential treatment of the boys and girls within families can be attributed to the social religious, cultural and economic returns that sons provide to their parents relative to daughters. A clear understanding of past trends, current situation and future plans is the need of the hour. Within the scope on hand, this study was undertaken to review the existing situation of under five year children group from the perspectives of disparity in Breastfeeding practices. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of gender bias in breast feeding practices and various socio demographic factors responsible for it.