An exploration of pregnant women and mothers' attitudes, perceptions and experiences of formula feeding and formula marketing, and the factors that influence decision-making about infant feeding in South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite strong evidence showing the lifelong benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and children, global breastfeeding practices remain poor. The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes is an internationally agreed code of practice, adopted by the World Health Assembly in 1981, to regulate promotion of commercial formula, and is supported by legislation in many countries. However, marketing of formula remains widespread and contributes to mother's decisions to formula feed. We present South African data from a multi-country, mixed-methods study exploring women's decision-making about infant feeding and how this was influenced by exposure to formula marketing.

Methods

Using a consumer-based marketing approach, focus group discussions (FGDs) were co

SUBMITTER: Horwood C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8872897 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature