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Who Breastfeeds Among Women Living in Tribal Communities in Rural Rajasthan, India?

While breastfeeding is culturally accepted in India, exclusive breastfeeding rates remain low, especially as the infant increases in age. This paper, developed using baseline data from the Rajasthan Nutrition Project, assesses the factors that influence whether women breastfeed initially and exclusively for six months. Findings from this paper suggest that breastfeeding rates are suboptimal, possibly as a result of food insecurity, financial status, and autonomy. Practitioners should explore supplemental interventions that are more comprehensive than just breastfeeding promotion alone and which include a focus on improving women’s earnings, increasing women’s autonomy, and addressing periods of food insecurity.