The Role of Doctors in Influencing Infant Feeding Practices in South India

Infant feeding practices are influenced by many factors including culture, household income, literacy, advice from health care workers and advertising. In South India doctors play a very significant role in influencing a mother's decision about when or whether to supplement breastfeeding with formula feeds. Doctors exert their influence on mothers both directly and indirectly, and they are increasingly targeted by commercial infant food companies. Doctors need continuing education about nutrition education, lactation management, and a greater awareness about the influence of inappropriate promotional practices by companies.

Download Full-text

Maternal postpartum feeding anxiety was associated with infant feeding practices: results from the mother-infant cohort study of China

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth ◽

10.1186/s12884-020-03483-w ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jing Sun ◽

Yimin Zhu ◽

Yongjin Li ◽

Niuniu Li ◽

Tan Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Infant Feeding ◽

Household Income ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Bottle Feeding ◽

Infant Food ◽

Postpartum Women ◽

Food Refusal ◽

Infant Feeding Practices ◽

Colostrum Feeding

Abstract Background Maternal feeding anxiety (FA) was prevalent during puerperium and might affect infant feeding practices. This study was aimed to investigate the FA status in Chinese postpartum women and its relationship with infant feeding practices (FPs). Methods Participants were from the Mother-Infant Cohort Study of China, in which the dietary and feeding practices, physical and psychiatric health for both mothers and infants were followed up from childbirth to next 2 years. In this study the maternal feeding anxiety (FA) status at 0–3 months postpartum was assessed by Li’s Self-rating Feeding Anxiety Scale (SFAS). Infant feeding practices (FPs) at 0–3 months, including breastfeeding-related behaviors, responsive feeding and infant food refusal were investigated by self-designed questionnaire. Results In total 456 mothers the average feeding anxiety scores (FAS) was 41.02 ± 8.02 (mean ± SD), and maternal FA prevalence were 61.4% (FAS>38) with severe FA being 8.6% (FAS>52) at 0–3 months postpartum. The FAS was related with infant FPs, and lower maternal FAS was significantly related with infant colostrum feeding (40.86 ± 8.02 vs 44.74 ± 11.33, P < 0.05), but higher FAS was related with bottle feeding (41.95 ± 8.28 vs 39.69 ± 7.92, P < 0.05). The mothers with severe feeding anxiety (FAS > 53) were more likely to feed infants with bottle (ORs, 95%CI: 2.41, 1.11 ~ 5.19). There were not significant association between FAS and exclusive breastfeeding and responsive feeding practices (P > 0.05). The higher FAS was associated with infant food refusal behaviors, the maternal scores whose infant “never”, “rarely”, “sometimes” and “often” spat out food when feeding were 39.86 ± 8.02, 41.47 ± 8.18, 41.36 ± 7.44 and 42.14 ± 12.03 increasingly (P > 0.05), and the FA prevalence was significantly different among groups (P < 0.05). The infants whose mother was identified as feeding anxiety were more likely to refuse opening the mouth when feeding (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated maternal FAS was positively related to infant bottle feeding (βi = 2.487, P < 0.05) and outdoor sunshine exposure practice (βi = 1.787, P < 0.05), and negatively related to household income level (βi = − 0.118, P < 0.05). Conclusions Maternal postpartum feeding anxiety was associated with some infant feeding practices, including bottle feeding and infant food refusal behaviors.

Download Full-text

Mothers’ infant feeding experiences: constraints and supports for optimal feeding in an HIV-impacted urban community in South Africa

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980009005199 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 1983-1990 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Lindiwe Sibeko ◽

Anna Coutsoudis ◽

S’phindile Nzuza ◽

Katherine Gray-Donald

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Health Care ◽

Infant Feeding ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Service Providers ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Accurate Information ◽

Feeding Practice ◽

Infant Feeding Practices ◽

Care Workers

AbstractObjectiveTo better understand the enabling and challenging factors impacting on infant feeding practices in communities with a high HIV prevalence.DesignQualitative study, with data collected through in-depth interviews and observations of mothers, in addition to discussions with health-service providers.SettingUrban settlement in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.SubjectsMothers recruited from an HIV clinic and from within the community.ResultsEmerging from discussions with mothers on the acceptability of alternative feeding methods were the challenges they encountered in feeding their infants. Mothers readily identified feeding in the context of HIV infection as an issue of great concern, encompassing three central themes: (i) stigma and disclosure of HIV; (ii) confusion and coercion; and (iii) diarrhoea, sickness and free formula. It became evident that mothers rarely received quality infant feeding counselling and consequently mixed feeding, a widespread practice but one that is highly risky for HIV transmission, remained a common feeding practice. Exclusive breast-feeding (EBF) was best practised with support, following disclosure of HIV status. Availability of free formula did not guarantee exclusive formula feeding but instead led to inappropriate feeding practices.ConclusionsIn addition to providing accurate information, health-care workers must be empowered to counsel mothers effectively, addressing issues of disclosure and thereby facilitating mobilization of maternal support networks. These findings illustrate the challenges that exist in policy translation within the context of quality of training for health-care workers on optimizing maternal infant feeding practices, particularly in HIV-prevalent, resource-poor settings.

Download Full-text

The Influence of Infant Food Advertising on Infant Feeding Practices in St. Vincent

International Journal of Health Services ◽

10.2190/7l6x-gq7p-nte6-aabu ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 53-75 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Ted Greiner ◽

Michael C. Latham

Keyword(s):

Infant Feeding ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Bottle Feeding ◽

Food Advertising ◽

Infant Food ◽

Infant Feeding Practices ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

Complete Sample ◽

Infant Foods ◽

The Public

A survey designed to examine the extent to which infant food advertising could be shown measurably to influence infant feeding practices was carried out in St. Vincent in the eastern Caribbean. A questionnaire was administered to mothers of about 200 children one to two years old, nearly a complete sample in each of two towns. Infant food advertising was found to be uncommon. The typical infant feeding pattern, largely a combination of both breast and bottle feeding, had existed for decades. Despite the fact that this was not a very appropriate setting for such a study, and that there were a number of methodological constraints, the results of two multiple regression analyses suggested that the more a mother was influenced by infant food advertising, the sooner she began to bottle feed and the sooner she stopped breastfeeding. The cessation of all promotion of commercial infant foods, to the public as well as to health professionals, is called for.

Download Full-text

Childcare arrangements and infant feeding practices by family structure and household income among US children aged 0 to 2 years

Maternal and Child Nutrition ◽

10.1111/mcn.12152 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 591-602 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Juhee Kim ◽

Tara L Gallien

Keyword(s):

Family Structure ◽

Infant Feeding ◽

Household Income ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Infant Feeding Practices ◽

Us Children

Download Full-text

Role of Social Support in Improving Infant Feeding Practices in Western Kenya: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Global Health Science and Practice ◽

10.9745/ghsp-d-15-00197 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 55-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Altrena G Mukuria ◽

Stephanie L Martin ◽

Thaddeus Egondi ◽

Allison Bingham ◽

Faith M Thuita

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Experimental Study ◽

Infant Feeding ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Infant Feeding Practices ◽

Western Kenya ◽

Quasi Experimental

Download Full-text

Infant Nutrition in the Subtropics and Tropics (World Health Organization Series No. 29), ed. 2, by Derrick B. Jelliffe, M.D., F.R.C.P., F.A.P.H.A. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1968, 335 pp., $9.00 clothbound

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.44.2.308a ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 44 (2) ◽

pp. 308-308

Author(s):

Nevin S. Scrimshaw

Keyword(s):

Young Children ◽

World Health Organization ◽

Nutrition Education ◽

Infant Feeding ◽

Infant Nutrition ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

World Health ◽

Infant Feeding Practices ◽

The World ◽

Health Organization

Since its publication in 1955, the WHO Monograph, Infant Nutrition in the Subtropics and Tropics by Derrick Jelliffe, has been indispensable reading and reference for persons dealing with pediatric problems in the developing areas of the world. Its review of infant feeding practices in tile subtropics and tropics was unique, and its description of nutritional diseases among young children in these areas was concise and reliable. The chapters on improving infant feeding, preventing nutritional disease, and introducing nutrition education were by far the best published guidelines available.

Download Full-text