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Published on: February 5, 2019
Trends in infant feeding in Port Moresby
Insights
Infant formula use rose significantly in Port Moresby, with working mothers citing employment as the primary reason. This trend highlights the need for workplace support, like creches, to encourage breastfeeding.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition
Background:
- Infant feeding practices are crucial for child health and development.
- Urban settings may present unique challenges to optimal infant nutrition.
- Understanding trends in artificial feeding is essential for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey infant feeding practices in Port Moresby in 1986 and 1987.
- To assess short-term trends in artificial milk consumption.
- To identify reasons for the use of artificial feeding methods.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional surveys conducted in 1986 and 1987.
- Participants included infants under 1 year old attending an urban health clinic and a Children's Outpatients Department (COPD).
- Data collected on infant feeding methods and reasons for artificial feeding.
Main Results:
- Artificial milk use increased by 60% between 1986 (9.4%) and 1987 (15.2%).
- The increase was most pronounced in the COPD sample.
- Bottle feeding was the predominant method (95%) for artificial feeding.
- Mothers working outside the home was the stated reason for artificial feeding in 67% of cases.
Conclusions:
- A significant rise in artificial infant feeding was observed in Port Moresby.
- Maternal employment is a major driver of artificial feeding.
- Policy interventions, including workplace creches, are recommended to support breastfeeding.
Abstract:
A survey of infant feeding practices was conducted among children aged less than 1 year attending an urban health clinic and the main Children's Outpatients Department (COPD) in Port Moresby in 1986. A further survey was conducted in 1987 to assess the short-term trends. The use of artificial milk increased by 60%, from 9.4% in the first to 15.2% in the second survey. This increase was particularly marked in the COPD sample. Bottle feeding accounted for 95% of artificial feeding methods. In 67% of cases the reason given for using artificial feeding was that the mother was working. Legislation and an explicit government policy to foster the establishment of creches in the work place may be necessary to counter the worrying increase in artificial feeding.
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