A Cross-Sectional Study of the Prevalence and Determinants of Formula-Feeding Practices by Mothers in a Sub-district of Kerala, India

Overview

Journal Cureus

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2024 Dec 30

PMID 39735131

Authors

Latha Bhagyalekshmi

Chitra Tomy

Jeby J Olickal

Kavumpurathu R Thankappan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background There is a scarcity of data on formula-feeding practices in India. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine the prevalence and factors associated with formula-feeding practices among mothers of infants in a sub-district of Kerala, India. Methods This community-based cross-sectional study included 300 mothers of infants aged 0-12 months selected using multistage cluster sampling. Data on formula feeding practices were collected at any point during the infant's life through a pre-tested, structured interview schedule. Log-binomial regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with formula feeding. Results The mean age of the mothers was 27.06 years (SD: 3.90). Of the participants, 75% (n=225) were graduates or postgraduates, 67.33% (n=202) were homemakers, and 58% (n=174) were above the poverty line (APL). Early initiation of breastfeeding (within one hour of birth) was reported by 65% (n=195) of the mothers. The prevalence of formula feeding among infants under one year was 53.3% [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 47.5-59.1%]. Infants of mothers who delivered in private hospitals [adjusted prevalence ratio (APR): 3.44, 95% CI: 2.47-4.79; p<0.001] and those with a birth weight below 2.5 kg [APR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.03-1.39; p=0.015] were more likely to be formula-fed compared to their counterparts. Conclusion Formula feeding was observed in over half of the infants in our study. Targeted interventions are essential to reduce formula-feeding practices, especially among low-birth-weight infants and those born in private hospitals.

References

Rozensztrauch A, Klaniewska M, Berghausen-Mazur M . Factors affecting the mother's choice of infant feeding method in Poland: a cross-sectional preliminary study in Poland. Ir J Med Sci. 2021; 191(4):1735-1743. PMC: 9308570. DOI: 10.1007/s11845-021-02751-8. View

Rollins N, Bhandari N, Hajeebhoy N, Horton S, Lutter C, Martines J . Why invest, and what it will take to improve breastfeeding practices?. Lancet. 2016; 387(10017):491-504. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01044-2. View

Vazquez-Osorio I, Vega-Sanchez R, Maas-Mendoza E, Heller Rouassant S, Flores-Quijano M . Exclusive Breastfeeding and Factors Influencing Its Abandonment During the 1st Month Postpartum Among Women From Semi-rural Communities in Southeast Mexico. Front Pediatr. 2022; 10:826295. PMC: 8894443. DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.826295. View

Roe B, Whittington L, FEIN S, Teisl M . Is there competition between breast-feeding and maternal employment?. Demography. 1999; 36(2):157-71. View

Bengough T, Dawson S, Cheng H, McFadden A, Gavine A, Rees R . Factors that influence women's engagement with breastfeeding support: A qualitative evidence synthesis. Matern Child Nutr. 2022; 18(4):e13405. PMC: 9480951. DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13405. View

Abebe L, Aman M, Asfaw S, Gebreyesus H, Teweldemedhin M, Mamo A . Formula-feeding practice and associated factors among urban and rural mothers with infants 0-6 months of age: a comparative study in Jimma zone Western Ethiopia. BMC Pediatr. 2019; 19(1):408. PMC: 6827217. DOI: 10.1186/s12887-019-1789-8. View

Taye A, Asegidew W, Taderegew M, Bizuwork Y, Zegeye B . Formula feeding practice and associated factors among mothers with infants 0-6 months of age in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study. Ital J Pediatr. 2021; 47(1):55. PMC: 7941680. DOI: 10.1186/s13052-021-01010-x. View

Wako W, Wayessa Z, Fikrie A . Effects of maternal education on early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding practices in sub-Saharan Africa: a secondary analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys from 2015 to 2019. BMJ Open. 2022; 12(3):e054302. PMC: 8928244. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054302. View

Flacking R, Ewald U, Nyqvist K, Starrin B . Trustful bonds: a key to "becoming a mother" and to reciprocal breastfeeding. Stories of mothers of very preterm infants at a neonatal unit. Soc Sci Med. 2005; 62(1):70-80. DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.05.026. View

10.

Tang L, Binns C, Lee A . Infant formula crisis in china: a cohort study in sichuan province. J Health Popul Nutr. 2015; 33(1):117-22. PMC: 4438655. View

11.

Brown A, Jordan S . Impact of birth complications on breastfeeding duration: an internet survey. J Adv Nurs. 2012; 69(4):828-39. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2012.06067.x. View

12.

Bakshi S, Paswan V, Yadav S, Bhinchhar B, Kharkwal S, Rose H . A comprehensive review on infant formula: nutritional and functional constituents, recent trends in processing and its impact on infants' gut microbiota. Front Nutr. 2023; 10:1194679. PMC: 10320619. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1194679. View

13.

Bennett S, Woods T, Liyanage W, Smith D . A simplified general method for cluster-sample surveys of health in developing countries. World Health Stat Q. 1991; 44(3):98-106. View

14.

Tawfik S, Saied D, Mostafa O, Salem M, Habib E . Formula Feeding and Associated Factors among a Group of Egyptian Mothers. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019; 7(11):1854-1859. PMC: 6614267. DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2019.462. View

15.

Li R, Perrine C, Anstey E, Chen J, MacGowan C, Elam-Evans L . Breastfeeding Trends by Race/Ethnicity Among US Children Born From 2009 to 2015. JAMA Pediatr. 2019; 173(12):e193319. PMC: 6802058. DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.3319. View

16.

Fei Y, Zhang Z, Fu W, Wang L, Mao J . Why do first-time mothers not intend to breastfeed? --A qualitative exploratory study on the decision-making of non-initiation in Jingzhou, China. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022; 22(1):183. PMC: 8903621. DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04494-5. View

17.

Victora C, Bahl R, Barros A, Franca G, Horton S, Krasevec J . Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. Lancet. 2016; 387(10017):475-90. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01024-7. View

18.

Murphy R, Foley C, Verling A, OCarroll T, Flynn R, Rohde D . Women's experiences of initiating feeding shortly after birth in Ireland: A secondary analysis of quantitative and qualitative data from the National Maternity Experience Survey. Midwifery. 2022; 107:103263. DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2022.103263. View

19.

Martin C, Ling P, Blackburn G . Review of Infant Feeding: Key Features of Breast Milk and Infant Formula. Nutrients. 2016; 8(5). PMC: 4882692. DOI: 10.3390/nu8050279. View

20.

Odom E, Li R, Scanlon K, Perrine C, Grummer-Strawn L . Reasons for earlier than desired cessation of breastfeeding. Pediatrics. 2013; 131(3):e726-32. PMC: 4861949. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2012-1295. View