Breastfeeding versus Formula Feeding: Main Reasons and Determinants

Background: It is critical to identify the factors that influence mothers' decision to discontinue breastfeeding and use formula. The purpose of this study is to compare the characteristics of breast-fed and formula-fed subgroups in order to identify the factors influencing the discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding in a group of Iranian infants. Methods: The data of the two groups of women who fed their infants with breast milk (n = ۲۷۵) or formula (n = ۲۷۵) were gathered by the use of a questionnaire including questions regarding maternal demographics, breastfeeding-related problems, infant disorders, and factors that influence formula preference. Face-to-face interviews with the mothers of the children were used to obtain the questionnaire data by a trained interviewer. In SPSS version ۲۲, descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: Lack of weight gain (۳۲.۸ %), inadequate breast milk (۵۱.۳ %), return to work (۹.۱%), teething (۰.۷%), mothers' disorders (۳.۶ %), and infants' disorders (۲.۵ %) were the most common reasons for starting formula feeding. Physicians (۳۴.۵ % versus ۲۱.۵ %), health providers (۲۶.۵ % versus ۳۰.۵ %), health assistants (۲۶.۹% versus ۲۶.۷ %), and books (۱۲.۰ % versus ۱۶.۷%) are the main sources of information about the types of infantile feeding in the groups of mothers who use formula or breast-feeding, indicating a significant difference between the sources used by the two groups (p = ۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: Formula use is primarily motivated by two factors: apprehension over the insufficiency of breastfeeding and a lack of time to do so. As a result, comprehensive education for mothers about the necessary cases of formula feeding is critical

کلیدواژه ها:

Breastfeeding ، Formula Feeding ، Exclusive nutrition