scholarly journals Use of social media platforms by manufacturers to market breast-milk substitutes in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. e003574
Author(s):  
Catherine Pereira-Kotze ◽  
Tanya Doherty ◽  
Elizabeth C Swart
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Breast Milk ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Child Nutrition ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
National Legislation ◽  
Breast Milk Substitutes ◽  
Milk Substitutes

In South Africa (SA), exclusive breast feeding remains rare, with breast-milk substitutes (BMS) commonly being used in ways that are detrimental to infant and young child nutrition, health and survival. The use of internet, digital and mobile platforms has increased, including in low-income and middle-income countries, like SA and these platforms are avenues for BMS marketing. SA has national legislation (Regulation R991) to enforce the International Code of Marketing of BMS. This paper aims to provide pertinent examples of how BMS manufacturers in SA use social media to market their products thus violating national regulations. A digital (and social media) ethnography approach was used to study BMS organisations’ activity on Facebook and Instagram. Purposively selected examples of social media posts observed (from 2015 to 2019) were included, and content analysed in terms of national legislation. Several examples of BMS social media marketing are presented and interpreted according to provisions of national regulations that they violate. BMS manufacturers have found ways on social media to market their products in a media space that is complex to regulate, and where it is difficult to enforce national regulations. It is necessary to engage with stakeholders, notably social media companies, to alert them to relevant regulations applicable to their platforms. Monitoring the marketing of products for infants and young children by national governments needs to include online and digital platforms especially social media.

Has Pakistan failed to ban the sale of formula milk?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Areeba Nakhuda ◽  
Emaan Amin ◽  
Sakina Abbas
Keyword(s):  
Breast Milk ◽  
Infant Formula ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Child Nutrition ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Formula Milk ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Breast Milk Substitutes ◽  
Milk Substitutes

According to a report published by WHO and UNICEF, countries continue to promote infant formula as a substitute for breast milk. (1) Out of 194 countries, 136 have adopted measures from the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk substitutes while 79 countries have banned the marketing of breast milk substitutes in hospitals. (1) Pakistan introduced a Protection of Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Ordinance in October 2002 to restrict the promotion of infant formula milk. (2) The Ordinance prohibits the marketing of infant formula as a substitute for mother’s milk. (2) Healthcare workers are prohibited from accepting any gifts or samples from the formula milk companies, and they should promote breastfeeding. (2) Breastmilk improves nutrition and provides antibodies for protection against various diseases. (1) Babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months after which complementary food should be given along with breastfeeding up to 2 years of age. (1) Undernutrition is responsible for about half of the under 5 deaths as it increases the frequency and severity of common infections. (3) However, in Pakistan, 48% of infants are breastfed exclusively for 0-5 months and the under 5 mortality rate in Pakistan is 67.2 per 1000 live births. (4) Healthcare providers play a pivotal role in encouraging parents’ decision to breastfeed their child by regular counselling where they highlight the benefits and address any misconceptions. During the COVID19 pandemic, there has been a decline in counselling, skilled lactation and other services by healthcare providers to encourage breastfeeding practice. (1) Practices of social distancing have made community counselling and mother support groups for promotion of breastfeeding challenging, leaving a gap for formula milk companies to profit from the crisis and weaken the confidence in nursing. (1) A study in Pakistan revealed that 70.5% of the healthcare workers had no knowledge about the national breastfeeding law. As a result, formula milk companies continued to violate the ban on distributing free samples and gifts to the healthcare staff. (5) This calls for a strict re-enforcement of regulations in hospitals and conducting nationwide awareness campaigns via social media, television, newspapers to counter the marketing of breastmilk substitutes and promote breastfeeding.  Keeping in mind that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the risks associated with coronavirus, WHO and UNICEF have encouraged mothers to breastfeed during the COVID-19 pandemic as there is no substantial evidence that the virus can be transmitted via breastmilk. (1) Continuous....

Commercial foods for infants under the age of 36 months: an assessment of the availability and nutrient profile of ultra-processed foods

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Karini Freire da Rocha ◽  
Célia Regina Barbosa de Araújo ◽  
Inês Lança de Morais ◽  
Patrícia Padrão ◽  
Pedro Moreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Milk ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Processed Foods ◽  
Minimally Processed ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Breast Milk Substitutes ◽  
Milk Substitutes ◽  
The One

ABSTRACT Objective: Considering the negative impact of the consumption of ultra-processed foods on health, this study assessed the availability and nutritional profile of commercial ultra-processed foods for infants in Natal, Brazil. Design: A cross-sectional exploratory study. Setting: Foods targeted at children under the age of 36 months sold in retail establishments located in high and low-income areas of the one capital city of Brazil. Participants: 1,645 food products consisting of 95 different types of food were available. The foods were assessed according to the NOVA classification: minimally processed, processed, and ultra-processed. The nutritional content per 100g was assessed according to processing classification. Results: Half of foods founded were breast milk substitutes and cereal foods (31.6% and 26.3%, respectively). The foods were predominantly ultra-processed (79%) and only 4.2% were minimally processed, with similar proportions of ultra-processed foods being found in both high and low-income areas. After excluding breast milk substitutes and follow-up formulas, all cereals, food supplements and some of the fruit or vegetable purees were ultra-processed, higher in energy density, fat, carbohydrate and protein, and low in fiber (P<0.05). Conclusions: The findings reveal that ultra-processed foods for infants are widely available in Brazil, reaffirming the need to strengthen the regulation of foods for infants and young children by introducing complementary measures designed to promote the production and marketing of foods manufactured using lower levels of processing.

scholarly journals Media audit reveals inappropriate promotion of products under the scope of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in South-East Asia

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 1333-1342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristine Hansen Vinje ◽  
Linh Thi Hong Phan ◽  
Tuan Thanh Nguyen ◽  
Sigrun Henjum ◽  
Lovise Omoijuanfo Ribe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Milk ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Child Nutrition ◽  
Market Size ◽  
Milk Formula ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
International Code ◽  
Editorial Content ◽  
Breast Milk Substitutes ◽  
Milk Substitutes

AbstractObjectiveTo review regulations and to perform a media audit of promotion of products under the scope of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (‘the Code’) in South-East Asia.DesignWe reviewed national regulations relating to the Code and 800 clips of editorial content, 387 advertisements and 217 Facebook posts from January 2015 to January 2016. We explored the ecological association between regulations and market size, and between the number of advertisements and market size and growth of milk formula.SettingCambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.ResultsRegulations on the child’s age for inappropriate marketing of products are all below the Code’s updated recommendation of 36 months (i.e. 12 months in Thailand and Indonesia; 24 months in the other three countries) and are voluntary in Thailand. Although the advertisements complied with the national regulations on the age limit, they had content (e.g. stages of milk formula; messages about the benefit; pictures of a child) that confused audiences. Market size and growth of milk formula were positively associated with the number of newborns and the number of advertisements, and were not affected by the current level of implementation of breast-milk substitute laws and regulations.ConclusionsThe present media audit reveals inappropriate promotion and insufficient national regulation of products under the scope of the Code in South-East Asia. Strengthened implementation of regulations aligned with the Code’s updated recommendation should be part of comprehensive strategies to minimize the harmful effects of advertisements of breast-milk substitutes on maternal and child nutrition and health.

scholarly journals Fatal drowning in the Western Cape, South Africa: a 7-year retrospective, epidemiological study

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 529-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colleen Jayne Saunders ◽  
Robyn Adriaanse ◽  
Abigail Simons ◽  
Ashley van Niekerk
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Young Adult ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Registration System ◽  
Drowning Prevention ◽  
Adult Men ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Public Holidays

IntroductionDrowning is a neglected public health threat in low-income and middle-income countries where the greatest drowning burden is observed. There is a paucity of drowning surveillance data from low-resource settings, particularly in Africa. Understanding local epidemiological factors will enable the development of context-specific drowning prevention initiatives and the appropriate allocation of resources.AimThe primary aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of fatal drowning in the Western Cape, South Africa.MethodThis retrospective study describes fatal drowning incidents captured in the Western Cape vital registration system between 2010 and 2016. Data were obtained from the Forensic Pathology Services of the Western Cape Government. One-way analysis of variance was performed to detect a trend in mean drowning mortality rates between 2010 and 2016. χ2 tests for independence were performed to detect differences in the distribution of variables between groups.ResultsA total of 1391 fatal drownings occurred in the Western Cape between 2010 and 2016, with an age-adjusted drowning mortality rate of 3.2 per 100 000 population. Rates were fourfold higher in men compared with women. Children, particularly young children aged 0–4 years, and young adult men between 20 and 34 years of age were identified to be at high risk of fatal drowning. Drowning occurred predominantly in large, open bodies of water with concentrations in summer and public holidays.ConclusionsThe Western Cape drowning prevention strategy should prioritise interventions to reduce drowning in children and young adult men, with a targeted focus on festive periods such as public holidays.

scholarly journals Relationship between children’s cognitions and later educational progress in rural South Africa: a longitudinal study

2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 422-426
Author(s):  
Melissa Cortina ◽  
Helen E Jack ◽  
Rebecca Pearson ◽  
Kathleen Kahn ◽  
Stephen Tollman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Educational Progress ◽  
Rural South ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Cognitive Triad ◽  
Rural South Africa

BackgroundChildren in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) who remain in school have better health and employment outcomes. South Africa, like many LMICs, has a secondary school completion rate under 50%, leaving room for improvement if we can identify factors that affect educational attainment. This is the first longitudinal study to examine the effects of childhood mental health and cognitions on educational outcomes in LMIC.MethodsUsing the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Cognitive Triad Inventory for Children (CTI-C), we assessed the psychological functioning and cognition of children aged 10–12 in rural South Africa. We linked that data with measures of educational progress collected 5 years later and examined associations between educational progress and (1) behavioural and emotional problems and (2) cognitive interpretations, adjusting for possible confounders.ResultsEducational data were available for 443 individuals. 92% (n=408) of individuals had advanced three or fewer grades in 7 years. Having more positive cognitions (CTIC-C) was positively associated with progressing at least three grade levels (adjusted OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.79). There was no evidence for an association between emotional and behavioural problems (SDQ) and educational progress (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.11).ConclusionIf children in LMICs can develop more positive perspectives, they may be able to stay in school longer. Cognitions can be modified, and future studies should test interventions that work to improve cognition in childhood, guided, for example, by principles of cognitive–behavioural therapy.

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