| Abstract: | In India, interviews with 125 mothers and measurement of mid-arm circumference of their children younger than 35 months were conducted to examine use of commercial milk formula. 80% of children lived within a nuclear family. 12% of mothers were illiterate. 76% of the children were taking commercial milk formula at the time of the study. 48% first received it before 12 months of age. Physicians (52%) were the leading source of advice for using commercial milk formula, followed by peer mothers (12%) and relatives (8%). 64% of mothers did not know that there were preparation instructions on the packaging. 60 mothers used a bottle to feed their child commercial milk formula. 89% of children 12-35 months old receiving commercial milk formula had mild to moderate protein energy malnutrition. 60% had had a diarrheal episode within the last 15 days. Use of commercial milk formula increased with income and maternal education level. These findings reflect the need to educate physicians and mothers about the disadvantages of using commercial milk formula. |
