Healthcare professionals' perspectives on commercial milk formula marketing in the UK: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To understand (1) healthcare professionals' (HCPs) perceptions and experiences of commercial milk formula (CMF) marketing to consumers and HCPs and (2) HCPs' perspectives on regulation of CMF marketing.

Setting

UK.

Design

In-person and online interviews with 41 HCPs with regular contact with pregnant women and mothers. Individual semistructured interviews were conducted from October 2019 to March 2021, focusing on experiences of CMF marketing and perceptions of legislation. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Three themes were developed: (1) 'Industry relationships have changed and not disappeared'-some HCPs reported contact with industry ceasing due to the Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) but contact with HCPs in other

SUBMITTER: McNaughton E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12013554 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature