Table 6 Participants attitudes about infant feeding
From: Women’s exposure to commercial milk formula marketing: a WHO multi-country market research study
Bangla- desh N=1178 n (%) | Mexico N=1050 n (%) | Morocco N=1050 n (%) | Nigeria N=1050 n (%) | South Africa N=1050 n (%) | United Kingdom N=1050 n (%) | Viet Nam N=1050 n (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Proportion of participants who agreed with the following statements | |||||||
Formula feeding is the better choice if a mother plans to go back to work | 1002 (85.1) | 892 (85.0) | 746 (71.0) | 836 (79.6) | 799 (76.1) | 318 (30.2) | 965 (91.9) |
Breastfeeding is best for your baby | 1167 (99.1) | 1009 (96.1) | 857 (81.6) | 960 (91.4) | 832 (79.2) | 787 (74.8) | 930 (88.6) |
Formula fed babies grow better than breastfed babies | 421 (35.7) | 186 (17.7) | 441 (42.0) | 291 (27.7) | 391 (37.2) | 48 (4.6) | 423 (40.3) |
Breastfeeding and FF provide a baby with the same health benefits | 277 (23.5) | 477 (45.4) | 586 (55.8) | 461 (43.9) | 559 (53.2) | 286 (27.2) | 594 (56.6) |
Formula helps babies sleep better | 646 (54.8) | 471 (44.9) | 708 (67.4) | 729 (69.4) | 662 (63.0) | 347 (33.0) | 667 (63.5) |
Formula is similar to breastmilk | 148 (12.6) | 336 (32.0) | 461 (43.7) | 494 (47.0) | 513 (48.9) | 298 (28.3) | 417 (39.7) |
Breastfeeding encourages better mother baby bonding | 1141 (96.9) | 996 (94.9) | 875 (83.3) | 975 (92.9) | 839 (79.9) | 775 (73.7) | 1003 (95.5) |
Formula keeps babies fuller for longer | 829 (70.4) | 731 (69.6) | 739 (70.4) | 795 (75.7) | 716 (68.2) | 551 (52.4) | 755 (71.9) |
Breastfeeding in public is embarrassing | 856 (72.7) | 198 (18.9) | 677 (64.5) | 191 (18.2) | 292 (27.8) | 177 (16.8) | 311 (29.6) |
Breastfed babies are healthier than formula fed babies | 800 (67.9) | 824 (78.5) | 834 (79.4) | 849 (80.9) | 716 (68.2) | 302 (28.7) | 705 (67.0) |
Formula feeding allows you to get your life back quicker | No variable | 644 (61.3) | 649 (61.8) | 705 (67.1) | 720 (68.6) | 492 (46.8) | 904 (86.1) |
Breastfeeding is traditional / old fashioned | 669 (56.8) | 605 (57.6) | 480 (45.7) | 132 (12.6) | 202 (19.2) | 30 (2,9) | 933 (88.9) |
Breastfeeding helps you get your body shape back quicker | 680 (67.7) | 619 (59.0) | 787 (75.0) | 691 (65.8) | 540 (51.4) | 533 (50.7) | 819 (78.0) |
My partner prefers me not to breastfeed | 54 (4.6) | 156 (14.9) | 379 (36.1) | 223 (21.2) | 303 (28.9) | 51 (4.8) | 83 (7.9)1 |
Formula feeding means I can leave my baby with others/ partner | 932 (79.1) | 601 (57.2) | 643 (61.2) | 796 (75.8) | 864 (82.3) | 780 (74.1) | 926 (88.2) |
There should be much more support to help women breastfeed successfully | 1157 (98.2) | 976 (93.0) | 867 (82.6) | 966 (92.0) | 786 (74.9) | 878 (83.5) | 966 (92.0) |
All brands of formula contain the same ingredients | No variable | 111 (10.6) | No variable | No variable | No variable | No variable | No variable |
You shouldn’t feel pressurized to breastfeed | 507 (43.0) | 681 (64.9) | 838 (79.8) | 850 (81.0) | 727 (69.2) | 1006 (95.6) | 891 (84.9) |