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Toward Understanding How Social Factors Shaped a Behavioral Intervention on Healthier Infant Formula-Feeding.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Whittle, Fiona 
Ong, Ken K 
Lakshman, Rajalakshmi 

Abstract

As part of a process evaluation, we explored in semi-structured interviews the experiences of 19 mothers who had taken part in a trial to reduce infant formula-milk intake and promote healthy weight gain, and reflections of three facilitators who delivered the intervention and control group protocols. Mothers appreciated the nonjudgmental support provided during the trial, after experiencing stigma and receiving limited advice on how, how much, and how often formula-milk should be given. The information mothers had previously found, printed on formula-milk tins, or provided by family, friends, and health professionals was often perceived as contradictory; the trial guidance also conflicted with social norms relating infant health positively with weight gain. For those recruited into the trial with older infants, who had already exceeded the recommendations, reducing formula-milk amounts was difficult. The findings highlight the difficulties of addressing a highly stigmatized, complex social practice with an individual, behavioral intervention approach.

Description

Keywords

Britain, behavior change, complexity, diet, nutrition, malnutrition, infants, mothers, mothering, obesity, overweight, qualitative methods, qualitative, stigma, Adult, Feeding Behavior, Female, Health Education, Humans, Infant, Infant Formula, Infant, Newborn, Interviews as Topic, Mothers, Social Norms, Weight Gain

Journal Title

Qual Health Res

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1049-7323
1552-7557

Volume Title

28

Publisher

SAGE Publications
Sponsorship
Economic and Social Research Council (ES/G007462/1)
Medical Research Council (MC_EX_UU_MR/J000361/1)
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/2)
Medical Research Council (MR/K023187/1)
Wellcome Trust (099415/Z/12/Z)
Department of Health
Wellcome Trust (087636/Z/08/Z)
Medical Research Council (MR/J000361/1)
Medical Research Council (MC_EX_MR/J000361/1)