Formula Feeding and Associated Factors among a Group of Egyptian Mothers

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding provides an unequalled way of infant nutrition, despite that, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months in Egypt is only 13%, and the rates of artificial feeding are rising. AIM: The current study aimed to explore the reasons for the use of artificial feeding among mothers receiving subsidised milk from formula dispensing centres in Egypt, and to detect the reasons behind the use of a formula only for infant feeding rather than mixed breastfeeding and artificial feeding. METHODS: This exploratory cross-sectional study involved 197 mothers; who attended centres for dispensing subsidised artificial formula at primary health care facilities (PHC) in El-Fayom and Ismailia governorates via a purposive sampling technique. The study spanned over 6-months duration from June till December 2018. RESULTS: A statistically significant higher percentage of artificial feeding only was noticed in male infants (47.5% in the AF group only versus 28.7% in the mixed feeding group (p = 0.018), and infants aged 6-12 months (47.5% in the AF group only versus 28.7% in the mixed feeding group, p = 0.032). A statistically significant higher percentage of artificial feeding only was noticed among infants born to mothers who have general anaesthesia during labour (67.2% in the AF group only versus 41.9% in the mixed feeding group, p = 0.004), and among infants born to mothers who think that formula feeding is better (13.1% in the AF group only versus 0.7% in the mixed feeding group, or that formula has a similar quality to breast milk (6.6%% in the AF group only versus 4.4% in the mixed feeding group, p = 0.0004. The most common reasons for formula feeding reported by both groups were perceived breast milk insufficiency (60.9%), weak babies (50.3%), and doctors’ advice (37%). Previous negative breastfeeding experience and the need for own body privacy were the two reasons which differed statistically in both groups p = 0.004 and 0.008, respectively. CONCLUSION: Antenatal care education is essential to improve mothers’ knowledge and practice of breastfeeding. Baby-friendly hospital initiative implementation is essential to ensure early initiation and continuation of breastfeeding.