Formula feeding practice and associated factors among mothers with infants 0–6 months of age in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study

Infants are in a state of rapid growth and development; the growth rate is most rapid during the first 4 to 6 months of life. Optimal infant and young child feeding practices rank among the most effective interventions to improve child health [1, 2].

The World Health Organization (WHO) [3] and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) [4] recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life with a continuation of breastfeeding while gradually introducing solid foods into the infant’s diet for 1 year or longer as mutually desired by mother and infant. In 2016, the United Nations (UN) Office of the high commissioner of human rights declared that breastfeeding is a human rights issue for both mothers and children and should be protected and promoted for the benefit of both. The introduction of local, nutrient-rich complementary foods thereafter with continued breastfeeding for 2 years of age or beyond is recommended [5, 6].

Despite, the recommendations that babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, less than 40% of infants below this age are exclusively breastfeeding worldwide. This is due to the impacts of globalization, increasing availability of formula milk in the supermarket, and promotion of formula milk by advertising on different media, the proportion, and duration of breastfeeding are declining and being replaced by formula feeding.

Lack of breastfeeding and especially lack of exclusive breastfeeding during the first half-year of life are important risk factors for infant and childhood morbidity and mortality [7, 8]. United Nations international children’s emergency fund (UNICEF) states that the provision of supplemental formulas can increase infant mortality by as much as 25 times [9]. Infants on formula feeding are not only deprived of the benefits of breast milk but also to be affected by acute respiratory infections (ARI), otitis media, allergies, gastroenteritis, diarrhea, pneumonia, diabetes mellitus, decreased cognitive development, increase risk of obesity, and sudden infant death syndrome [2, 8‐10].

Formula feeding has become a common practice in developed countries and urban communities in developing countries. Today there is a shift from exclusive breastfeeding practice towards the introduction of bottle-feeding. The increasing incidence of bottle feeding in developing countries particularly in Africa reflects the absorption of the western way of life [11].

Starting from 2016, the Ethiopian government has implemented several directives such as the “Infant Formula and Follow-up Formula Directive No. 30/2016” and the “Food Advertisement Directive 33/2016” to encourage breastfeeding by restricting the promotion of formula feeding practice [12]. However, the proportions of mothers who still breast-feed their child are considerably low particularly among women of the capital city, Addis Ababa [13]. According to the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) 2016 report, only 58% of infants less than 6 months were exclusively breastfed [14]. Formula feeding was 30% among the age of up to 1 month, it was 45% between two and 3 months and it increased to 68% in the infants from four to 5 months [2].

Nowadays there are different mechanisms applying in formula milk promotion by advertising on different media including by training health care providers. Due to these, intervention should be done to promote exclusive breastfeeding than infant formula at international and national levels especially in urban communities of Ethiopia. Hence, the study was conducted to assess the formula feeding practice and its associated factors among mothers with infants aged 0–6 months in Addis Ababa city, the capital city of Ethiopia.

The finding of this study will provide relevant updated information regarding the formula feeding practice and its associated factors, which is helpful for policymakers and other stakeholders to develop appropriate strategies and interventions for promoting and maintaining exclusive breastfeeding practices for the first 6 months of an infant’s life. It is also hoped that the study will provide baseline data for further research investigation on the area of this study.

This study has assessed the prevalence of formula feeding practice and associated factors among mothers with infants 0–6 months of age. Accordingly, the study found that 46.2% of mothers in the study area used formula feeding, 34.4% fed their infant pre-lacteal fluid. It was also found that the educational status of mothers, timing of initiation breastfeeding, pre-lacteal feeding, and delivery by cesarean section were significantly associated with formula feeding practices.

The prevalence of formula feeding practice in this study was similar to the EDHS 2011 result [19], the study in Eastern Ethiopia [20], and Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia [2]. However, this was higher than the findings from the studies conducted at Holeta (19.6%) [21], Gozamin, Northwest Ethiopia [22], Bodity, Southern Ethiopia [23], and Shashemene (20.9%) [24], but lower than the study conducted in Agaro, Southwest Ethiopia [25], and Harar [18]. The reasons for this difference in the prevalence of formula feeding practice may be due to variations in the study setting, sociocultural characteristics of participants, employment status of participants, availability of health care services, and health service utilization. Due to the urban area of the study, the participants in this study may be more likely to be government employees as compared to the study elsewhere in the rural area and hence the prevalence of formula feeding practice may be higher.

Concerning factors associated with formula feeding, this study found that mothers with an educational level of college diploma and above were more likely to practice formula feed for their child as compared to those with primary education and below. While this finding is comparable with similar studies conducted in Agaro, Southwest Ethiopia [25], Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia [2], and Cameroon [26], it is contrary to a study conducted in Indonesia [9] where educated mothers were 39% less likely to formula feed their infants. The reason for this discrepancy may be related to the methodology of the studies, classification of educational status, or the cultural differences of the study subjects.

Mode of delivery was also significantly associated with the formula-feeding practice, as mothers who gave birth by cesarean section were more likely to feed formula as compared to those who gave birth vaginally. This is in agreement with a similar study conducted in Bahirdar [27], Addis Ababa [28], and Egypt [29] where cesarean delivery was significantly associated with formula feeding practice. This may be due to post-operative conditions, as mothers with cesarean sections were less likely to have had skin-to-skin contact with their infants and felt fatigued and less relaxed after birth in the delivery room. This causes improper breast stimulation and emptying which in turn reduce maternal milk secretion and cause the introduction of formula feeding.

Contrary to this finding, another study conducted in a group of mothers in Egypt showed that cesarean delivery was 41.9% less likely associated with formula feeding practice [11]. The study in Debre Tabor town, Northwest Ethiopia, also found that mothers, who gave birth vaginally, were two times more likely to practice formula feeding than mothers who gave birth with cesarean section [30]. The reason for this discrepancy may be related to the methodology, period of the study, classification of mothers who delivered by cesarean section (mixed feeding group and exclusive formula feeding group), and the cultural differences of the study subjects.

Another predictor for formula feeding practice in this study was the timely initiation of breast milk. Mothers who initiated breastfeeding after 1 hour to 1 day of delivery were three times more likely to practice formula feeding compared to those who initiated breastfeeding within 1 hour. Similarly, mothers who initiated breastfeeding after 1 day up to 3 days and after 3 days were approximately four and five times more likely to practice formula feeding compared to those who initiated breastfeeding within 1 h, respectively. This finding was in agreement with studies from Hossana [31], Afar region [32], and Offa district, Southern Ethiopia [17]. The possible reason for this might be due to the fact that mothers who practiced early initiation of breastfeeding may have relatively good knowledge, attitude, and practice towards exclusive breastfeeding and also may have a better understanding about the risk of formula feeding for infants under the age of 6 months. When the time interval between delivery and initiation of breastfeeding is increases, there is a chance for the initiation of pre-lacteal feeding practice which in turn leads to decreased newborn-mother bonding and then inadequate maternal breast milk secretion.

It was also likely that the difference in the practice of formula-feeding may result from the difference in pre-lacteal feeding. Compared to mothers who didn’t give pre-lacteal feeds for their infant, mothers who gave pre-lacteal feeding were eight times more likely to practice formula-feeding. This finding is consistent with the findings of the studies in Raya Kobo district, North Eastern Ethiopia [33], Debre Markos [34], and Motta, Northwest Ethiopia [35]. This may be because pre-lacteal feeding cause delays in the need of an infant’s immediate breastfeeding and decreases the infant’s suckling and breast stimulation activity which in turn leads to inadequate milk production. The decrease in milk production will lead mothers to introduce supplementary foods for their infants and the addition of this supplementary formula may cause more and more reduction in milk production.

The study has some limitations. Due to the cross-sectional nature of the study design, the cause and effect relationship of events cannot be ascertained; moreover, as data were collected based on the mother’s perspective and self-reports rather than the practice being observed, the recall and social desirability biases may represent further limitations of the study.

Nearly half of the participants had formula-feeding practiced and one-third of participants were given pre-lacteal feeding for their infants. Educational status of mothers, the timing of initiation of breastfeeding, mode of delivery, and pre-lacteal feeding practice were found to be significantly and independently associated with formula feeding practice. Therefore, early initiation of breastfeeding, educating mothers about the risks associated with pre-lacteal feeding, and supporting mothers who gave birth by cesarean section for exclusive breastfeeding should be encouraged at the community and institutional levels.