Changes in public attitudes toward breastfeeding in the United States, 1999-2003

Data from the HealthStyles survey, an annual national mail survey to US adults, were examined to understand changes in public attitudes toward breastfeeding. The 1999 and 2003 HealthStyles surveys included four breastfeeding items related to public attitudes toward breastfeeding in public and toward differences between infant formula and breastmilk. The percentage of respondents in agreement with the statement, "Infant formula is as good as breastmilk," increased significantly from 14.3% in 1999 to 25.7% in 2003. The increase was particularly large among people of low socioeconomic status. The percentage increase in agreement that "feeding a baby formula instead of breastmilk increases the chances the baby will get sick" grew at a statistically significant level, but the total change was small (2.7 percentage points). No significant total changes were found for the other two survey items. The perception that infant formula is as good as breastmilk would be expected to soften a woman's commitment to breastfeeding should she be faced with obstacles to doing so. The findings underscore the need to educate the general public that breastfeeding is the best method of feeding and nurturing infants. Pediatricians and other health professionals should recommend human milk for all infants for whom breastfeeding is not specifically contraindicated.     

Assessing an Infant Feeding Web Site as a Nutrition Education Tool for Child Care Providers

ObjectiveDetermine child care providers' infant feeding knowledge, attitude and behavior changes after viewing the infant feeding Web site and determine the effectiveness of the Web site and bilingual educational materials.DesignIntervention and control groups completed an on-line pretest survey, viewed a Web site for 3 months, and completed an on-line posttest survey; follow-up data were also assessed.SettingColorado child care centers.ParticipantsThirty-eight child care providers.InterventionSocial learning theory-based website was evaluated by child care providers in the treatment group and providers in the control group viewed a comparable website.Main Outcome MeasuresKnowledge, attitude, and behavior changes on feeding infants breast milk, formula, and solid food; desired changes to Web site.AnalysisIndependent samples t tests, chi-square, and repeated measures.ResultsChanges in attitudes and behaviors from pre- to posttest occurred primarily in the intervention group (P < .05). At follow-up, no significant differences were found among the 3 time periods. Providers desired no changes to Web site or materials.Conclusions and ImplicationsChild care providers appeared to have adequate knowledge on feeding infants formula and breast milk, but not on hunger cues. Providers would continue to use this Web site in the future. Further research should determine if changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors are sustained over time and how infant feeding cues are read and determined in child care centers.     

Marketing Breastfeeding—Reversing Corporate Influence on Infant Feeding Practices

Breast milk is the gold standard for infant nutrition and the only necessary food for the first 6 months of an infant's life. Infant formula is deficient and inferior to breast milk in meeting infants' nutritional needs. The infant formula industry has contributed to low rates of breastfeeding through various methods of marketing and advertising infant formula. Today, in New York City, although the majority of mothers initiate breastfeeding (approximately 85%), a minority of infants is breastfed exclusively at 8 weeks postpartum (approximately 25%). The article reviews the practices of the formula industry and the impact of these practices. It then presents the strategic approach taken by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and its partners to change hospital practices and educate health care providers and the public on the benefits of breast milk, and provides lessons learned from these efforts to make breastfeeding the normative and usual method of infant feeding in New York City.     

Mothers who Formula Feed: Their Practices,Support Needs and Factors Influencing their Infant Feeding Decision

The majority of mothers in Ireland provide formula milk to their infants during the initial weeks postpartum; however, data are lacking on their formula feeding practices and support needs. This prospective Dublin-based observational study, which included 450 eligible mother–term infant pairs recruited and followed up to six months postpartum, aimed to advance our understanding of maternal formula feeding practices, their reasons for deciding to formula feed, sources of feeding information and perceived support needs; insights into infant formula milk consumption patterns in relation to current feeding guidelines are also provided. In summary, the vast majority of infants at six weeks were provided with formula milk (n =368; 81.8%). Positive maternal perceptions of formula feeding were among the most frequently reported reasons underlying mothers' decisions to formula feed (e.g. convenience, 17.3%). Potential public health concerns over the large formula milk volumes consumed by infants (mean 205 ml/kg/day) relative to infant feeding guidelines (150 ml/kg/day) were raised from this study. Some mothers continue to add solid foods to infant bottle feeds at six weeks (3.8%) and six months (6%), a non-recommended feeding practice posing a choking risk for infants. Crucially, this study highlights the need to provide greater support and information to mothers who decide to formula feed postpartum, including practical information on sterilisation and formula reconstitution. While breastfeeding promotion and research continues to be a public health priority in Ireland, addressing the support and information needs of mothers who formula feed, an under-represented and understudied population in the literature, also needs to be considered to ensure optimal health and safety for their infants.     

Maternal control of child‐feeding during breast and formula feeding in the first 6 months post‐partum

Background: Mothers who breastfeed use lower levels of control over later child diet. The baby‐led nature of breastfeeding may encourage this low control to develop. Alternatively maternal desire for control may drive breastfeeding duration. The present study explored whether differences in maternal control are present during milk feeding and whether these stem from or drive breastfeeding duration. Methods: Five hundred and two mothers with an infant aged 6–12 months completed a modified retrospective version of the child‐feeding questionnaire adapted to reflect milk feeding during the first 6 months post‐partum. Participants were recruited from mother and baby groups and online parenting forums. Mothers recalled their use of encouraging intake and scheduling feeds in relation to their infant’s intake of milk. Attitudes towards breastfeeding were also measured, including views that breastfeeding is inconvenient, difficult and that formula‐fed infants were more content. Results: Compared to mothers who formula‐fed or ceased breastfeeding within 1 week, mothers who breastfed for at least 6 months recalled a lower use of scheduling and encouraging milk feeds. Mothers who initiated breastfeeding but ceased within 1 week reported lower control compared to exclusive formula feeders. A high level of scheduling feeds was associated with considering that breastfeeding was inconvenient and a greater perceived infant size, whereas encouraging feeds was associated with considering that breastfeeding was difficult, low maternal confidence and a smaller perceived infant size. Conclusions: Maternal desire for control may drive breastfeeding duration. A controlling maternal feeding style may therefore be dispositional and present much earlier than current studies suggest.     

Breastfeeding in Africa: will positive trends be challenged by the AIDS epidemic?

In Africa, more than 95% of infants are currently breastfed, but feeding practices are often inadequate: feeding water, and other liquids, to breastfed infants is a widespread practice. Consequently, the rate of exclusive breast-feeding is low, particularly in West Africa. The rate of bottle-feeding is high in some countries (exceeding 30% in Tunisia, Nigeria, Namibia and Sudan). Nevertheless prolonged breastfeeding is common, and the median duration of breastfeeding ranges between 16 and 28 months. Urbanization and mothers' education are the major factors that tend to shorten breastfeeding. Nevertheless recent trends show an increase in early initiation and in duration of breastfeeding as a result of promotion efforts deployed by WHO and Unicef, local governments, and non-governmental organizations. The importance of breastmilk as a food resource of African countries is generally not recognized. In 31 countries where data on prevalence of breastfeeding are available, consumption of breastmilk by children under three years is estimated at 3.5 million tons per year. The AIDS epidemic could threaten breastfeeding because the virus can be transmitted through breastmilk, as demonstrated by numerous studies. A study suggests that feeding breastmilk and other liquids to infants could be the feeding mode associated with the highest rate of transmission. To prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, WHO recommends replacement feeding if it is feasible and safe. Otherwise, mothers are encouraged to practice exclusive breastfeeding for the first months of life followed by early and rapid weaning. The feasibility of replacement feeding with breastmilk substitutes, however, is very uncertain. In a study where free substitutes were given to HIV-positive mothers, the mortality of the formula-fed infants was the same as that of the breastfed infants. HIV-positive mothers may find it difficult to cope with the constraints of replacement feeding, in terms of cost, workload and time, and with the additional health care needs of non-breastfed infants. Exclusive breastfeeding for a few months could carry a lower risk of death than replacement feeding. But success in promoting exclusive breastfeeding has been limited in Africa, and new promotion methods are needed. Infants of all mothers, whether HIV-positive or not, will benefit from improving the rate of exclusive breastfeeding. The major problem is to ensure that early and rapid weaning, between 4 and 6 months, does not have a negative impact on the child's health. Early weaning is known to increase susceptibility to infections and can cause malnutrition. The feasibility and safety of this recommendation will have to be monitored carefully. A strong determination of African governments to promote exclusive breastfeeding among all mothers and to protect prolonged breastfeeding among non-infected mothers will limit the mother-to-child transmission of HIV while preserving the benefits of breastfeeding.     

African-american and latina adolescent mothers’ infant feeding decisions and breastfeeding practices: A qualitative study

Purpose: To explore minority teen mothers’ perceptions of breastfeeding and the influences on infant feeding choices.

Methods: A qualitative study using semistructured ethnographic interviews and focus groups involving 35 Latina and African-American girls in Chicago between the ages of 12 and 19 years who were primiparous and were currently pregnant or had delivered within the past 3 months.

Results: Adolescents identified three main influences on infant feeding decisions and practices: (a) their perceptions of the benefits of breastfeeding, (b) their perceptions of the problems with breastfeeding, and (c) influential people. In this study, teens reported no single influence which determined infant feeding choices. The decision to breastfeed was a dynamic process. Teens recognized that breastfeeding offered many benefits including facilitating maternal–child bonding and promoting the baby’s health, but concern was raised regarding a potential for excessive attachment between teen mother and baby. Fear of pain, embarrassment with public exposure, and unease with the act of breastfeeding acted as barriers for teenagers who were considering breastfeeding. Teenagers discussed the breast pump as a strategy in dealing with these barriers. The adolescents’ mothers continued to be an important influence.

Conclusions: The ranges of perceptions and influences that minority adolescent mothers have identified as affecting their infant feeding choices, illustrated and explained in the teens’ own words, are helpful to health care providers as they counsel teen mothers about infant feeding options.     

A longitudinal study of breastfeeding and weaning practices during the first year of life in Dunedin,New Zealand

OBJECTIVE: To investigate infant feeding practices during the first year of life in a group of white infants in Dunedin, New Zealand. DESIGN: Prospective study of infants from birth to 12 months of age. PARTICIPANTS: A self-selected sample of 74 white mothers and their infants born in Dunedin, New Zealand, between October 1995 and May 1996. Statistical analyses Regression analyses were performed to determine factors associated with successful breastfeeding initiation and duration. RESULTS: Among mothers, 88% (n=65) initiated breastfeeding, 42% (n=31) were exclusively breastfeeding at 3 months, and 34% (n=25) were partially breastfeeding at 12 months. Intention to breastfeed increased the likelihood of successful breastfeeding initiation. Mothers who reported that they did not have enough breastmilk tended to exclusively breastfeed for a shorter period of time. Tertiary education and exclusively breastfeeding at 1 month were associated with a longer duration of breastfeeding. Perception of breastfeeding in public as embarrassing was associated with a shorter duration of breastfeeding. Among infants, 45% (n=33) were given nonmilk foods before 4 months of age, and 69% (n=51) were given unmodified cow's milk as a beverage before 12 months. APPLICATIONS: Breastfeeding rates in this study, although higher than in many Western countries, were still lower than current recommendations. Our findings suggest that women should be taught how to increase their breastmilk supply. Parents should also be informed of the importance of delaying the introduction of nonmilk foods until their infant is 4 to 6 months of age and cow's milk until they are 12 months of age. Society also needs to address the social issue of embarrassment many mothers feel when breastfeeding in public.     

Infants' first feeds in Hangzhou, PR China

Breastfeeding is the foundation of good nutrition and provides the basis for health throughout the life span. The WHO and the Chinese Ministry of Public Health recommend exclusive breastfeeding to six months of age. The practice of giving prelacteal feeds may interfere with the establishment of good breastfeeding practices and is contrary to the principles of Baby Friendly Hospital accreditation. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of prelacteal feeds in a hospital in Hangzhou and the influence of this practice on breastfeeding at discharge. A longitudinal study of infant feeding was conducted in Hangzhou, China and a total of 638 mothers were recruited and interviewed while in hospital. The questionnaire included full details of infant feeding methods and factors likely to influence the initiation and duration of breastfeeding. Binary logistic regression was used to analyse factors influencing breastfeeding on discharge. In Hangzhou almost all babies are born in hospital, the median length of stay was 5.6 days and 77% of births were by caesarian section. In 26% of births the infants were given formula, water or milk as their first feed. At the time of discharge from hospital 91% of infants were receiving some breastmilk, but only 36% of mothers were exclusively breastfeeding. Breastfeeding on discharge from hospital was inversely related to giving prelacteal feeds (OR 0.115, 95% CI 0.055-0.238). While in hospital just over one quarter of infants received prelacteal feeds and these infants had a lower rate of breastfeeding on discharge.     

Warm bodies, cool milk: conflicts in post partum food choice for Indochinese women in California

The Federal Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children provides nutritious foods and dietary counselling to low income women and children with a medically certified nutritional risk. The Public Health Foundation, a large WIC agency in Los Angeles, observed declining breastfeeding rates among Indochinese participants. We interviewed 110 Cambodian, ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese WIC participants about their infant feeding decisions and experience. These women believed that formula was superior to breastmilk for a number of reasons, some related to the Asian humoral medical system. The women described 'excessive cooling' during childbirth that they hoped to counter-balance by consuming humorally hot foods for 100 days post partum. A hot maternal diet was thought to produce unhealthy breastmilk after 1 month, so the women preferred using infant formula, perceived to be stable and more nourishing than breastmilk. The WIC Program is using these and other findings to make breastfeeding more attractive to Southeast Asians.     

Knowledge mobilization tool to promote,protect, and support breastfeeding during COVID-19

SettingThis knowledge mobilization project was conceptualized to increase awareness among breastfeeding mothers and the general public on safe infant feeding practices during the COVID-19 pandemic by addressing myths and misconceptions associated with breastfeeding practices, guiding breastfeeding mothers to make informed decisions around child feeding practices, and offering meaningful guidance in simple language through a short online animated video.InterventionThis project was undertaken in four phases. During phase 1, an informal discussion was held with the breastfeeding mothers, service providers, and community partner in identifying issues surrounding lactation counselling facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. During phase 2, recommendations from 23 organizations with regard to breastfeeding during COVID-19 were reviewed and analyzed. During phase 3, using evidence from reliable sources, a 5-minute animated e-resource on breastfeeding during COVID-19 was conceptualized and developed. During phase 4, the e-resource was disseminated to the breastfeeding mothers, general public, post-secondary institutions, and organizations providing services to breastfeeding mothers in Canada.OutcomesThis evidence-based e-resource facilitated addressing misconceptions around breastfeeding during COVID-19 and raising public awareness on safe infant feeding practices during this pandemic. Overall, the video was described as an informative, user-friendly, useful, and easily accessible resource by breastfeeding mothers who were in self-isolation with little access to healthcare services during the pandemic.ImplicationsThis project highlighted the importance of patient engagement and collaboration with the community partner in protecting breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic. It further illustrated how informational e-resources can protect breastfeeding in situations where breastfeeding mothers’ access to healthcare services is compromised.     

Low-income mothers' views on breastfeeding

Nourishing infants presents women today with choices, desires, obligations and constraints. Despite mounting evidence about the health, psychosocial and societal benefits of breastfeeding both for women and infants, current breastfeeding rates worldwide are far from optimal, particularly among low-income women. Many mothers choose to use infant formula. Drawing from structured interviews with 154 mothers from an urban low-income multiethnic population in the United States, a typology of mothers' feelings about their infant feeding method is developed. Findings indicate that regardless of their feeding method, mothers tended to attribute higher health benefits to breastfeeding and perceived community norms as probreastfeeding. They differed in their rating and perceptions of logistics and the extent to which benefits mattered in their infant-feeding decision. Contradictions associated with the practice of breastfeeding even among mothers who breastfed, were reflected in their perceptions of social disapproval of breastfeeding in public, reports of ridicule by friends, lack of support from some health providers, and difficulties associated with working. A typology of mothers' emotional states resulting from such contradictions summarizes the findings and underscores how some mothers who did not, but would have liked to breastfeed, may be subjected to feelings of guilt and deprivation. Implications for educational interventions are to amplify prenatal infant feeding consultations and address ways to overcome logistical and apprehension barriers.     

Infant Feeding Attitudes and Knowledge among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Women in Glasgow

Objectives This study: (1) investigated infant feeding attitudes and knowledge among socioeconomically disadvantaged mothers in an urban community with historically low breastfeeding rates, (2) examined the influence of women’s social networks on infant feeding attitudes and decisions, and (3) validated a measure of infant feeding attitudes and knowledge in this population (Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale, IIFAS). Methods Women attending a prenatal clinic (n = 49) reported on: (1) demographics, (2) infant feeding attitudes and knowledge (IIFAS), (3) feeding intent, (4) opinions about breastfeeding in public, and (5) social networks. Feeding method at discharge was abstracted from hospital charts. Social network members (n = 47) identified by the prenatal sample completed interviews covering: (1) demographics, (2) infant feeding attitudes and knowledge (IIFAS), (3) prior infant feeding methods and recommendations, and (4) opinions about breastfeeding in public. Results Mean IIFAS scores were low in both groups, indicating neutral to negative breastfeeding attitudes; mothers’ scores were lower than social network members. Higher maternal IIFAS score was significantly associated with intended and actual breastfeeding. A social network positive towards breastfeeding was significantly associated with mothers’ positive attitude towards breastfeeding. Both mothers and social network members support breastfeeding in public. IIFAS internal consistency was robust for both mothers and social network members. Predictive validity was demonstrated by significant positive association between score and intended and actual feeding methods. Conclusions Knowledge and attitude predict breastfeeding initiation in this population. Social network members may influence mothers’ feeding choices. This research is important because attitudes and knowledge derived from the IIFAS can be used to develop and evaluate breastfeeding promotion programs.     

Association of Family and Health Care Provider Opinion on Infant Feeding with Mother's Breastfeeding Decision

In the United States, about 25% of women choose not to initiate breastfeeding, yet little is known about how opinions of individuals in a woman's support network influence her decision to breastfeed. In the 2005-2007 Infant Feeding Practices Study II, women completed questionnaires from the last trimester of pregnancy until 12 months postpartum. Mothers indicated prenatally their family members' and health care providers' opinion on how newborns should be fed: breastfed only, formula fed only, breast and formula fed, or no opinion/don't know. Breastfeeding initiation was determined by asking mothers around 4 weeks postpartum (n=2,041) whether they ever breastfed. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between mothers' perception of family members' and health care providers' opinion on how to feed the infant and the initiation of breastfeeding, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Nearly 14% of mothers surveyed did not initiate breastfeeding. Mothers who believed their family members or health care providers preferred breastfeeding only were least likely not to initiate breastfeeding. Never breastfeeding was significantly associated with the following perceptions: the infant's father (odds ratio [OR]=110.4; 95% CI 52.0 to 234.4) or maternal grandmother (OR=15.9; 95% CI 7.0 to 36.0) preferred only formula feeding; the infant's father (OR=3.2; 95% CI 1.7 to 5.9) or doctor (OR=2.7; 95% CI 1.2 to 6.2) preferred both breast and formula feeding; and the infant's father (OR=7.6; 95% CI 4.5 to 12.7), maternal grandmother (OR=5.4; 95% CI 2.6 to 11.0), or doctor (OR=1.9; 95% CI 1.0 to 3.7) had no opinion/didn't know their feeding preference. The prenatal opinions of family members and health care providers play an important role in a woman's breastfeeding decisions after the infant's birth.     

HIV, infant feeding and more perils for poor people: new WHO guidelines encourage review of formula milk policies

The release of the new WHO guidelines on HIV and infant feeding, in a global context of widespread impoverishment, requires countries to re-examine their infant-feeding policies in relation to broader socioeconomic issues. This widening scope is necessitated by compelling new reports on the scale of global underdevelopment in developing countries. This paper explores these issues by addressing feeding choices made by HIV-infected mothers and programmes supplying free formula milks within a global environment of persistent poverty. Accumulating evidence on the increase in malnutrition, morbidity and mortality associated with the avoidance or early cessation of breastfeeding by HIV-infected mothers, and the unanticipated hazards of formula feeding, demand a deeper assessment of the measures necessary for optimum policies on infant and child nutrition and for the amelioration of poverty. Piecemeal interventions that increase resources directed at only a fraction of a family's impoverishment, such as basic materials for preparation of hygienic formula feeds and making flawed decisions on choice of infant feeding, are bound to fail. These are not alternatives to taking fundamental steps to alleviate poverty. The economic opportunity costs of such programmes, the equity costs of providing resources to some and not others, and the leakages due to temptation to sell capital goods require careful evaluation. Providing formula to poor populations with high HIV prevalence cannot be justified by the evidence, by humanitarian considerations, by respect for local traditions or by economic outcomes. Exclusive breastfeeding, which is threatened by the HIV epidemic, remains an unfailing anchor of child survival.     

Association of Child Care Providers Breastfeeding Support with Breastfeeding Duration at 6 Months

Many lactating mothers participate in the workforce and have their infants cared for outside of their home, yet little is known about their child care providers’ (CCPs’) support of breastfeeding. This study examines the association between CCPs’ breastfeeding support as reported by mothers at 3 months and mother’s breastfeeding at 6 months. Infant Feeding Practices Study II, a longitudinal study, followed mothers of infants via mail questionnaires almost monthly from late pregnancy throughout the first year. This study consisted of 183 mothers who breastfed and had their infant in child care at 3 months and answered 5 questions regarding CCPs’ supports. Total number of CCPs’ support was a summary of responses to individual items and categorized into 3 levels (0–2, 3–4, or 5 total supports). Multiple logistic regressions examined how each breastfeeding support and total number were associated with breastfeeding at 6 months. Breastfeeding at 6 months was significantly associated with CCP support to feed expressed breast milk (AOR = 4.55; 95 % CI = 1.09, 18.95) and allow mothers to breastfeed at the child care place before or after work (AOR = 6.23; 95 % CI = 1.33, 29.16). Compared to mothers who reported fewer than 3 total supports, mothers who reported 5 supports were 3 times as likely to be breastfeeding at 6 months (AOR = 3.00, 95 % CI = 1.11, 8.13). Our findings suggest that CCPs’ breastfeeding support at 3 months, particularly feeding expressed breast milk and allowing mothers to breastfeed before or after work, may help mothers maintain breastfeeding at 6 months.     

西部贫困农村地区健康信息传播对婴幼儿母亲科学喂养认知的促进

目的 明晰西部贫困农村地区健康信息传播模式对婴幼儿母亲母乳喂养认知的影响,为提高该类地区妇女的婴幼儿喂养认知,从而改善婴幼儿的健康状况,提供科学建议。 方法 分别于2014年、2019年在我国西部贫困农村地区,选取24月龄及以下婴幼儿及其母亲为研究对象,通过问卷调查收集其人口学特征、健康信息传播模式、科学喂养认知等资料。运用回归分析健康信息传播模式对婴幼儿母亲的科学喂养认知的影响。 结果 共纳入1 284对（2014年）、1 049对（2019年）母婴。2019年婴幼儿母亲早开奶知晓率（72.64%）、纯母乳喂养知晓率（31.36%）均分别显著高于2014年（65.73%,25.30%）（均 P < 0.05）。在信息传播模式中,70.54%的婴幼儿母亲主要通过基层医务工作者获取喂养信息。回归分析显示,基层医务工作者结合信息传播材料传递母乳喂养信息( OR = 2.23, 95% CI 1.03～4.85)促进了婴幼儿母亲的早开奶认知;基层医务工作者传播母乳喂养信息( OR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.04～2.38)、基层医务工作者与亲友协同传播母乳喂养信息的交互作用( OR = 2.39, 95% CI 1.48～3.87)促进了婴幼儿母亲纯母乳喂养认知。 结论 以基层医务工作者为核心的母乳喂养信息传播模式促进了西部贫困农村地区婴幼儿母亲早开奶、纯母乳喂养的认知。