by Anne Eglash MD, IBCLC, FABM
Does receiving free formula by mail reduce breastfeeding rates? The likelihood is yes, since I don’t suspect that formula companies are doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. They have shareholders to serve!
So the question is, to what extent does receiving free formula by mail effect breastfeeding rates? The authors of a study published in early 2016 used data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II, a national survey by the US Center for Disease Control on infant feeding, to answer this question.
According to these authors, research has shown that aggressive formula marketing in the 1970’s was associated with an increase in infant mortality due to lack of breastfeeding. This led the World Health Organization to encourage governments to adopt the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes (AKA ‘The Code’). The Code is a set of principles that prevents formula companies from marketing directly to families or indirectly through healthcare providers. Unfortunately, the USA never formally approved The Code, so we continue to observe free formula samples being given to healthcare workers, to be passed to families, and families continue to receive free formula either in the hospital, medical office, or by mail.
According to the Infant Practices Study II data, what do you think is the impact of receiving free formula samples by mail on breastfeeding rates? (choose 1 or more)
- Free formula samples reduced exclusive breastfeeding rates after 5 months postpartum
- Free formula samples reduced exclusive breastfeeding rates at 1 month postpartum and beyond
- Free formula samples reduced exclusive breastfeeding rates after 3 months postpartum
- Free formula samples reduced ‘any’ breastfeeding