scholarly journals Do early infant feeding practices vary by maternal ethnic group?

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 957-964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy J Griffiths ◽  
A Rosemary Tate ◽  

AbstractObjectiveTo examine UK country and ethnic variations in infant feeding practices.DesignCohort study.SettingInfants enrolled in the Millennium Cohort Study, born between September 2000 and January 2002.SubjectsA total of 18 150 natural mothers (11 286 (8207 white) living in England) of singleton infants.Outcome measuresBreast-feeding initiation, breast-feeding discontinuation and introduction of solid foods before 4 months.Explanatory variablesMaternal ethnic group, education and social class.ResultsSeventy per cent of UK mothers started to breast-feed, of whom 62% stopped before 4 months. Median age at discontinuing breast-feeding was 14, 13, 10 and 6 weeks in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, respectively. Thirty-six per cent of UK mothers (34% in England) introduced solids before 4 months. White mothers were more likely to discontinue breast-feeding (62%) and introduce solids early (37%) than most other ethnic minority groups; those stopping before 4 months were more likely to introduce solids early compared with those continuing to breast-feed beyond this age (adjusted rate ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.3 (1.1–1.2)). Educated mothers were less likely to stop breast-feeding before 4 months (white mothers, 0.8 (0.8–0.9); non-white mothers, 0.9 (0.8–1.0)) than those with no/minimal qualifications but, among ethnic minorities, were more likely to introduce solids early (1.3 (1.0–1.6)). Socio-economic status was positively associated with breast-feeding continuation among white women, and with age at introduction of solids among non-white women.ConclusionsWe have identified important geographic, ethnic and social inequalities in breast-feeding continuation and introduction of solids within the UK, many of which have not been reported previously. The factors mediating these associations are complex and merit further study to ensure that interventions proposed to promote maternal adherence to current infant feeding recommendations are appropriate and effective.

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 1200-1210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sato Ashida ◽  
Freda B Lynn ◽  
Natalie A Williams ◽  
Ellen J Schafer

AbstractObjectiveTo identify the social contextual factors, specifically the presence of information that supports v. undermines clinical recommendations, associated with infant feeding behaviours among mothers in low-income areas.DesignCross-sectional survey evaluating social support networks and social relationships involved in providing care to the infant along with feeding beliefs and practices.SettingOut-patient paediatric and government-funded (Women, Infants, and Children) clinics in an urban, low-income area of the south-eastern USA.SubjectsEighty-one low-income mothers of infants between 0 and 12 months old.ResultsMost mothers reported receiving both supportive and undermining advice. The presence of breast-feeding advice that supports clinical recommendations was associated with two infant feeding practices that are considered beneficial to infant health: ever breast-feeding (OR=6·7; 95 % CI 1·2, 38·1) and not adding cereal in the infant’s bottle (OR=15·9; 95 % CI 1·1, 227·4). Advice that undermines clinical recommendations to breast-feed and advice about solid foods were not associated with these behaviours.ConclusionsEfforts to facilitate optimal infant feeding practices may focus on increasing information supportive of clinical recommendations while concentrating less on reducing the presence of undermining information within mothers’ networks. Cultural norms around breast-feeding may be stronger than the cultural norms around the introduction of solid foods in mothers’ social environments; thus, additional efforts to increase information regarding introduction of solid foods earlier in mothers’ infant care career may be beneficial.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-590

This report focuses on the recent scientific literature concerning infant feeding worldwide. The first four papers examine infant-feeding practices in the United States; the last five papers focus on such practices in developing countries. DOMESTIC REPORT The domestic section of the report examines the available literature from industrialized countries that may be relevant to the United States' situation. In brief, the findings of the domestic report are that the evidence is generally inconclusive that breast-feeding has a large, positive effect on infant health in the United States. Modest protective effects may exist with regard to gastroenteritis. The evidence is somewhat stronger among American Indian and Alaskan native populations in which risk of infant morbidity and mortality is high. Little information exists on the effects in disadvantaged urban groups. The available evidence concerning trends in infant-feeding practices indicates that the rate and duration of breast-feeding are increasing, especially among the more affluent groups. The evidence is less clear among the disadvantaged. In general, lower socioeconomic groups are less likely to breast-feed. INTERNATIONAL REPORT The international section of the report examines some of the central issues regarding methods of infant feeding in the developing world and discusses the implications of the findings. In developing countries, where infant mortality is much higher than in the United States, the potential for breast-feeding to be an important determinant of infant survival is much greater. Sanitation is likely to be poorer; traditional foods offered in lieu of breast milk are likely to be nutritionally deficient; and commercial formula—if available and used—is more likely to be inappropriately diluted and stored.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 872-879
Author(s):  
Michael I. Reiff ◽  
Susan M. Essock-Vitale

Newborn nursery nursing staff members were surveyed to determine their attitudes and teaching practices regarding breast- and bottle-feeding. Concurrently, mothers using this nursery responded to a structured interview concerning their infant-feeding practices at 14 to 21 days postpartum and possible hospital influences on these practices. The nursing staff strongly advocated breast-feeding and did not favor specific bottle-feeding practices or products. Nursing staff counseling was generally interpreted by mothers as supporting breast-feeding, but this did not deter a large proportion of mothers who stated an initial preference for breast-feeding from introducing formula as a supplementary or exclusive form of infant feeding during the short study period. Almost all mothers doing any amount of bottle-feeding at the time of their interview were using the same formula brand and a ready-to-feed preparation used during their hospital stay. Other influences on mother's infant-feeding patterns are discussed. It is concluded that the hospital staff and routines exerted a stronger influence on mothers's infant-feeding practices by nonverbal teaching (the hospital "modeling" of infant formula products) than by verbal teaching (counseling supporting breast-feeding). Future studies might explore new ways of supporting mothers who desire to breast-feed by designing innovative hospital routines to model breast-feeding rather than feeding by infant formula.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Stephanie V Wrottesley ◽  
Alessandra Prioreschi ◽  
Wiedaad Slemming ◽  
Emmanuel Cohen ◽  
Cindy-Lee Dennis ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: To (i) describe the infant feeding practices of South African women living in Soweto and (ii) understand from the mothers’ perspective what influences feeding practices. Design: Semi-structured focus group discussions (FGD) and in-depth interviews (IDI) were conducted, and data were analysed using thematic analysis. Setting: Soweto, South Africa. Participants: Nineteen mothers were stratified into three FGD according to their baby’s age as follows: 0–6-month-olds, 7–14-month-olds and 15–24-month-olds. Four mothers from each FGD then attended an IDI. Results: Although mothers understood that breast-feeding was beneficial, they reported short durations of exclusive breast-feeding. The diversity and quality of weaning foods were low, and ‘junk’ food items were commonly given. Infants were fed using bottles or spoons and feeding commonly occurred separately to family meal times. Feeding practices were influenced by mothers’ beliefs that what babies eat is important for their health and that an unwillingness to eat is a sign of ill health. As such, mothers often force-fed their babies. In addition, mothers believed that feeding solid food to babies before 6 months of age was necessary. Family matriarchs were highly influential to mothers’ feeding practices; however, their advice often contradicted that of health professionals. Conclusions: In South Africa, interventions aimed at establishing healthier appetites and eating behaviours in early life should focus on: (i) fostering maternal self-efficacy around exclusive breast-feeding; (ii) challenging mixed feeding practices and encouraging more responsive feeding approaches and (iii) engaging family members to promote supportive household and community structures around infant feeding.


2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (1-Part-I) ◽  
pp. 43-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao-Hua Chuang ◽  
Wu-Shiun Hsieh ◽  
Yi-Chun Chen ◽  
Pei-Jen Chang ◽  
Baai-Shyun Hurng ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 502-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Abdulraheem ◽  
CW Binns

AbstractObjectiveTo document the infant feeding practices of Maldivian mothers.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of 251 Maldivian mothers recruited in 2004 from the ‘well baby’ or ‘well child’ clinics on the island of Male' and including 75 mothers from three other islands, Hura, Himmafushi and Thulusdhoo.ResultsThe full breast-feeding rate at hospital discharge was 93% but declined to 41% at 4 months. Any breast-feeding rates were high among Maldivian mothers: 100% at 1 month and 85% were still breast-feeding at 6 months. The median duration of breast-feeding was 24 months.ConclusionBreast-feeding rates are high and the average duration of breast-feeding is more than 2 years in the Maldives. Health promotion activities should be directed towards maintaining the already high ‘any breast-feeding’ rates and increasing the proportion of infants exclusively breast-fed to 6 months.


2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 138-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamanna Begum ◽  
SK Azimul Hoque ◽  
Md Rafiqul Islam ◽  
Soofia Katoon ◽  
Azanta Rani Shah

Background: Appropriate breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices are the fundamental to children’s nutrition, health and survival during the first year of life. WHO and UNICEF have articulated a global strategy for poor infant feeding practices directly and indirectly contributes to under nutrition, morbidity and mortality in infant. Objective: This study was designed to determine the breast feeding (BF) and complementary feeding (CF) practices in study population. Methodology: This descriptive cross sectional study was carried out in Pediatrics out patients department (OPD) of Shahid Surhawardy Medical College and Hospital, from January 2009 to December 2009. Feeding history of total 250 babies age >6 months to <1 year was taken from mothers. Results: Among 250 total babies, prelacteal feed was given in 29.2%(73/250), colostrum was given in 79.2%(198/250) and exclusive breast feeding upto six months was given in 24%(60/250) babies. CF was started in 242 babies and it was too early before six months in 29.6%(74/250) cases. Amount of CF was adequate in 66.9%(162/ 242) and composition of CF was good enough in 58.3%(141/242) babies. Conclusion: In this study CF was introduced before 6 months in one third babies and amount was inadequate in same numbers of children. There is need for promotion and protection of optimal infant feeding practices for improving nutritional status of our children. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjch.v37i3.18616 Bangladesh J Child Health 2013; Vol.37(3): 138-141


2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fenglian Xu ◽  
Colin Binns ◽  
Jing Wu ◽  
Re Yihan ◽  
Yun Zhao ◽  
...  

AbstractAimsTo document infant feeding methods in the first six months of life in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China, 2003–2004. Some problems with breast-feeding in the area are explained.MethodsA longitudinal study of infant feeding practices was undertaken. A total of 1219 mothers who delivered babies during 2003 and 2004 were interviewed in five hospitals or institutes, and after discharge were contacted in person or by telephone at approximately monthly intervals to obtain details of infant feeding practices. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore factors associated with breast-feeding initiation.Results‘Any breast-feeding’ rates at discharge and at 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 and 6 months were 92.2, 91.3, 89.9, 88.8, 87.7, 86.0 and 73.0%, respectively. ‘Exclusive breast-feeding’ rates at discharge and at 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 and 6 months were 66.2, 47.6, 30.1, 25.8, 22.1, 13.0 and 6.2%, respectively. The main problem of breast-feeding in Xinjiang was the early introduction of formula or water. The average duration of ‘exclusive breast-feeding’ was 1.8 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7–2.0), of ‘full breast-feeding’ 2.8 months (95% CI 2.7–2.9) and of ‘any breast-feeding’ 5.3 months (95% CI 5.2–5.4).ConclusionsInfant feeding methods in Xinjiang were documented in this study and the main problems with infant feeding in Xinjiang are discussed. Further studies are needed to identify factors associated with ‘exclusive breast-feeding’ and duration.


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