Healthcare professionals' and mothers' perceptions of factors that influence decisions to breastfeed or formula feed infants: a comparative study.

This article is a report of a study comparing healthcare professionals' and mothers' perceptions of factors that influence the decision to breastfeed or formula feed an infant. The World Health Organisation recommends that mothers should breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months of age and then continue to do so alongside complementary foods for the first 2 years and beyond. However, levels of breastfeeding in the United Kingdom are below the recommended targets. Low levels of actual or perceived professional support and understanding are associated with formula use. Twenty professionals working closely with mothers of young infants completed a semi-structured interview exploring the reasons they believed mothers chose to use formula milk. Twenty-three mothers with an infant aged 6-12 months also reflected on their experiences of milk feeding. The data were collected during 2007-2008. Professionals described a range of influences on maternal decisions to breastfeed or formula feed including lack of knowledge, support and help with difficulties. These were strongly echoed in the reasons mothers gave for formula use, suggesting clear professional understanding of the challenges relating to breastfeeding. Although keen to give further support, professionals raised issues of lack of time and resources to support mothers. Contrary to maternal beliefs of poor professional understanding, professionals had a clear perception of influences affecting early milk feeding choice. Further resources and recognition are needed for healthcare professionals working with new mothers to enable them to offer increased support, with the aim of increasing breastfeeding duration.

Brown A ，Raynor P ，Lee M 《-》

Decision to breastfeed and early cessation of breastfeeding in infants below 6 months old--a population-based study of 3,204 infants in Hong Kong.

Lee WT ，Wong E ，Lui SS ，Chan V ，Lau J ... -  《ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION》

Mothers' experiences with breastfeeding management and support: a quality improvement study.

Sarasua I ，Clausen C ，Frunchak V 《-》

The factors influencing young mothers' infant feeding decisions: the views of healthcare professionals and voluntary workers on the role of the baby's maternal grandmother.

Bernie K 《-》

A qualitative study of infant feeding decisions among low-income women in the Republic of Ireland.

to explore infant feeding decisions among low-income women living in Ireland to gain an in-depth understanding of the factors, which influence breast feeding initiation and continuation. a descriptive qualitative study using focus groups and semi-structured interviews. community and primary health-care settings in the Republic of Ireland. a convenience sample of 33 low-income mothers was recruited from 2 community programmes and 3 primary health-care centres. six dominant themes were identified using Thematic Analysis. Prior knowledge of infant feeding, especially from experiences of seeing breast- and artificial milk-feeding in the family and the community, influenced feeding choice. Embarrassment and stigma about breast feeding in public places and in some cases in the private sphere were commonly described as barriers to breast feeding. The decision to bottle feed often reflected a balancing of the needs of the mother and the baby, because breast feeding was often perceived as inconvenient and requiring extreme determination. Breast feeding difficulties in the early weeks were frequently described and those who stopped breast feeding early often lacked practical knowledge and experienced support. In terms of health professional support, the mothers favoured a non-pressurised approach along with practical help with breast feeding. there is a need for promotional efforts to normalise breast feeding and for training of health professionals in the provision of appropriate support.

Shortt E ，McGorrian C ，Kelleher C 《-》