Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Nov 28;16(11):e74706.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.74706. eCollection 2024 Nov.

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

Latha Bhagyalekshmi  1 , Chitra Tomy  2 , Jeby J Olickal  1 , Kavumpurathu R Thankappan  1
Affiliations

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

Latha Bhagyalekshmi et al. Cureus. .

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.

Keywords: exclusive breast feeding; feeding infants and young children; formula feeding; low birth weight; private hospital.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Amrita School of Medicine, Kochi issued approval ECASM-AIMS-2024-062. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Sample selection process
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. A comprehensive review on infant formula: nutritional and functional constituents, recent trends in processing and its impact on infants' gut microbiota. Bakshi S, Paswan VK, Yadav SP, et al. Front Nutr. 2023;10:1194679. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Infant Formula Preparation and Storage. [ Nov; 2024 ]. 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/formula-feeding/... https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/formula-feeding/...
    1. 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. Taye AA, Asegidew W, Taderegew MM, Bizuwork YG, Zegeye B. Ital J Pediatr. 2021;47:55. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Review of infant feeding: key features of breast milk and infant formula. Martin CR, Ling PR, Blackburn GL. Nutrients. 2016;8:279. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Infant Formula Market. Pharmacy/ Medical Stores, Specialty Stores, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032 [Internet. [ Nov; 2024 ]. 2024. https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/amp/industry-reports/infant-form... https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/amp/industry-reports/infant-form...

LinkOut - more resources