Parental attitudes toward feeding practices of infants and young children and their perception of baby milk products

Chin, Rebecca Sue Lynn (2005) Parental attitudes toward feeding practices of infants and young children and their perception of baby milk products. Universiti Malaysia Sabah. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

A survey on infant-feeding and weaning practices of 505 respondents who had children currently aged between 0-6 years old and the decisive factors which influence parents' purchase decision of infant and follow-up formula was studied in Kota Kinabalu. Initiation of breast-feeding was practiced by 86.3% of respondents. Only 8.3% of 436 respondents exclusively breast-fed for 6 months and beyond. Parental education and income were the major predictors for the duration of breast-feeding (R2=O. 717) as well as the initiation of weaning (R2=0. 636) . An association was established where parents with a higher educational background (X2=70.191, df=28, p<0.001) and household income (X2=74.863, df=28, p<0.001) were found to have a higher tendency in initiating formula feeding earlier. Respondents with only 1 child (OR=0.55) and who breastfed for more than 6 months (OR=2.46) were less likely to initiate early formula feeding. Infant formula was incorporated into the baby's diet due to its convenience (53.5%) as well as mothers suffering from insufficient breast-milk (43.4%). Parents who were highly educated (X2=99.107, df=9, p<0.001) and had a higher income (X2=96.501, df=12, p<0.001) also tended to wean their babies earlier. The most common weaning food given was baby cereal and porridge. Enfalac, Dumex, Dutch Lady, Nestle and Fernleaf were among the top 5 brands which respondents were most familiar with. Parents became acquainted to infant and follow-up formulas mainly through advertisement and promotion (32.9%). Quality and brand were the 2 most influential factors in determining consumer purchase decision on infant and follow-up formulas. The infant and follow-up formulas which respondents purchased were correlated with each other (r=0.523, P<0.05). Although breast-feeding is widely practiced, its continuation is still hampered by many social constraints such as lack of facilities and support in the workplace to encourage mothers to breastfeed and therefore most parents resolved to early formula feeding for their convenience. Parents' familiarity towards the brands of infant and follow-up formula products affected their purchase decisions. Enfalac, Dumex and Dutch Lady were the top 3 brands of formula, which parents purchased.

Item Type: Academic Exercise
Keyword: infant-feeding, weaning practice, 0-6 years, influence parents'purchase decision, brands of infant
Subjects: T Technology > TX Home economics > TX1-1110 Home economics > TX341-641 Nutrition. Foods and food supply
Department: SCHOOL > School of Food Science and Nutrition
Depositing User: SITI AZIZAH BINTI IDRIS -
Date Deposited: 24 Sep 2013 10:44
Last Modified: 17 Oct 2017 11:07
URI: https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/7053

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