International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Mouneshwari Kammar, Manjula Patil and Prema Patil

abstract
With an objective to assess the Knowledge and practice on child rearing practices in migrant families in sugarcane harvesting pockets of Bagalkote present study was conducted during 2020-21 during sugarcane harvesting season. Purposive of sampling was employed to select women who were willing to participate and in the reproductive age and had given birth to at least one child. A sequential explanatory mixed method study design was used where quantitative (cross-sectional survey) followed the qualitative (grounded theory) phase. The survey was undertaken among the representative sample in sugarcane harvesting area comprising of 42 mothers from migrant families who stayed in two villages namely Benakatti of Bagalkot taluka and Huvanur of Hunagund taluka during sugarcane harvesting season 2021-22. Quantitative Data was collected by using Child rearing knowledge scale (Saramma and Thomas, 2010) and Child rearing practice scale (Saramma and Thomas, 2010), while qualitative data was elicited by conducting an in-depth interview. Data on child rearing practices of mother revealed that, about 90.24 percent had checked the weight of the baby, 96.68 percent were sleeping with baby in the same bed. About 70.73 percent were not able to feed the baby with first milk (Colostrum), while 90.24 percent did not start complementary feeding at 6 months. The data pertaining to knowledge on child rearing practices depicted that, 98.6 percent mothers expressed breast milk is most helpful for mental development of baby, 98.6 percent did not know that baby’s clothes need to be washed separately, and 96.7 percent mothers knew that baby explores the world through interacting with other family members. Qualitative data on child rearing practices revealed a need for inclusion of these families in public distribution system (PDS), health care facilities, access to drinking water and electricity, safe environment for their children, as basic essentials for the healthy child outcomes. These families in sugarcane harvesting migrate every season in search of employment and are deprived of basic facilities, especially vulnerable groups like children and women are silent sufferers. The seasonal migration of sugarcane harvesting involve a majority of population in India for which there is need for separate policy for the welfare of the same.