Breastfeeding versus Formula Feeding: Main Reasons and Determinants

Background: It is critical to identify the factors that influence mothers decision to discontinue breastfeeding and use formula. The purpose of this study is to compare the characteristics of breast-fed and formula-fed subgroups in order to identify the factors influencing the discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding in a group of Iranian infants. Methods: The data of the two groups of women who fed their infants with breast milk (n = 275) or formula (n = 275) were gathered by the use of a questionnaire including questions regarding maternal demographics, breastfeeding-related problems, infant disorders, and factors that influence formula preference. Face-to-face interviews with the mothers of the children were used to obtain the questionnaire data by a trained interviewer. In SPSS version 22, descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: Lack of weight gain (32.8 %), inadequate breast milk (51.3 %), return to work (9.1%), teething (0.7%), mothers disorders (3.6 %), and infants disorders (2.5 %) were the most common reasons for starting formula feeding. Physicians (34.5 % versus 21.5 %), health providers (26.5 % versus 30.5 %), health assistants (26.9% versus 26.7 %), and books (12.0 % versus 16.7%) are the main sources of information about the types of infantile feeding in the groups of mothers who use formula or breast-feeding, indicating a significant difference between the sources used by the two groups (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Formula use is primarily motivated by two factors: apprehension over the insufficiency of breastfeeding and a lack of time to do so. As a result, comprehensive education for mothers about the necessary cases of formula feeding is critical.