Study To Assess The Effectiveness Of Garlic Cloves In Increasing Milk Production Among Postnatal Mothers In Selectec Urban Area Of The City

Abstract

Breast milk is the ideal source of nutrition for infants and plays a vital role in promoting growth, immunity, and overall health. However, many postnatal mothers experience insufficient breast milk production, which may affect successful breastfeeding. Traditional dietary practices such as the consumption of garlic are believed to improve lactation. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of garlic cloves in increasing milk production among postnatal mothers in a selected urban area of the city.

A quantitative research approach with a pre-experimental one-group pretest and posttest design was adopted for the study. The sample consisted of 100 postnatal mothers selected through non-probability convenient sampling. Data were collected using a structured demographic questionnaire and a checklist to assess the level of breast milk production. After conducting the pretest, garlic cloves were administered as an intervention to the participants for a specified period, followed by a posttest to evaluate the level of breast milk production.

The results revealed that before the administration of garlic cloves, 66% of postnatal mothers had inadequate milk production, 32% had moderate production, and only 2% had adequate milk production, with a mean score of 8.8. After the intervention, 65% of mothers had adequate milk production, 30% had moderate production, and only 5% had inadequate milk production, with a mean score of 24. The paired t-test value (t = 24.01) was higher than the table value (1.98) at the 0.05 level of significance, indicating that garlic cloves were effective in increasing breast milk production among postnatal mothers. Thus, the research hypothesis was accepted.

The study concluded that the administration of garlic cloves is an effective, simple, and economical method to improve breast milk production among postnatal mothers