No Influence from Formula Kits

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- The distribution of take-home samples of infant
formula to new mothers at hospital discharge does
not discourage breastfeeding, experts say.

Pediatric researchers at the University of Iowa in Iowa City compared
the breastfeeding patterns of mothers receiving either
formula- or breastmilk-oriented hospital discharge feeding kits. They
say their findings "do not support the belief held by many
health professionals... that infant formula discharge packages decrease
the duration of breastfeeding."

The study is published in this month's Archives of Pediatric and
Adolescent Medicine.

Due to its unique nutrient and immunological value, most pediatricians
now recommend mothers breastfeed for at least the first
six months of infant life.

Previous studies have suggested that handing out the formula-based kits
to newly discharged mothers might inhibit continued
breastfeeding.

Not so, say the Iowa researchers. They studied the postnatal feeding
patterns of 763 new mothers receiving one of three
hospital-discharge kits. One kit contained a manual breast pump; another
contained commercially prepared infant formula; a
third kit contained both the pump and formula samples.

Infant-feeding patterns were tracked in all of the mothers over a
two-month period.

Results were "the opposite of expectations," the researchers say.
Instead of turning away from breastfeeding, "women who
received only a formula sample (in their kit) exclusively breastfed at
higher rates... than did women who received only a manual
breast pump," according to the study.

In general, however, the investigators found that postnatal feeding
packages (in any form) had no real effect on infant-feeding
patterns.

These findings may undermine the arguments of those who advocate a ban
on hospital formula giveaways. "Such bans may
have little effect on the duration of either exclusive or partial
breastfeeding," the study authors conclude.

They believe changing societal attitudes may be 'protecting' new mothers
against the supposed 'influence' of such hand-outs.
The researchers say an "increasing emphasis on the benefits of
breastfeeding by the media and the medical profession" may be
keeping today's mothers breastfeeding longer.

In any case, the Iowa researchers believe their findings "fail to
demonstrate a detrimental effect of commercial hospital
discharge packages on the duration of breastfeeding."

Among all three groups of women in the study, exclusive breastfeeding
lasted an average of 6.5 weeks, and partial
breastfeeding ended after an average of 10 weeks. These rates still
remain below levels recommended by the government
report "Healthy People 2000," which has set a goal of 50% of infants
being breastfed until 6 months of age. The Iowa
investigators say "educational programs" should be targeted at women to
increase the popularity of breastfeeding nationwide.
SOURCE: Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine (1997;151:724-729)