The role of doctors in influencing infant feeding practices in South India
Fidler, K.; Costello, A.
Tropical Doctor 25(4): 178-180
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0049-4755 PMID: 7502330 DOI: 10.1177/004947559502500412Document Number: 294705
Infant feeding practices are influenced by many factors, including culture, household income, literacy, advice from health care workers, and advertising. Doctors in South India play a major role in influencing a mother's decision about when or whether to supplement breastfeeding with formula feeds. For example, 152 mothers were interviewed after attending mother and child health outpatient clinics at two hospitals in Mangalore, Karnataka, South India. 45% of the interviews were conducted at a private hospital and the remainder at a government hospital. Only mothers with children under age 7 years were accepted to participate. They reported doctors as being the largest single group source of information concerning formula feed, followed by relatives and advertising. Mothers were more likely to receive advice from a doctor about feeding if they were literate, not low caste, living in an urban or semi-rural setting, or receiving a relatively higher weekly income. Doctors exert their influence upon mothers both directly and indirectly, and they are increasingly targeted by commercial infant food companies. They require continuing education about nutrition education, lactation management, and a greater awareness about the influence of inappropriate promotional practices by companies.