Clarification of Neonatal Factors of Facilitator and Barriers of Using of Formula in Infants Under 2 Years: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Breast milk is the best nutrition for infants and contains of substances that absorbed by infant easily and provides energy and child growth. High consumption of formula has economic, social and psychological damages for infant, family and community. As mothers and infants have important role in taking care of infants and selection of type of their nutrition, we tried to survey of maternal and neonatal factors of facilitator of using of formula in infants under 2 years.Methods: The study was conducted with qualitative approach using a content analysis method, in which semi-deep and semi-structured interviews were performed with twelve participants that contain of mothers who had under two years old children, husband and health workers. All interviews were analyzed and themes were extracted. And Guba and Lincoln criteria were considered throughout the study.Results: The results emerged as seven main themes in two general categories. Facilitators include maternal factors, neonatal factors and social space and barriers includes maternal factors, neonatal factors, medical system and social factors. After coding in main category of neonatal factors, there were five main themes: physical problems such as prematurity, neonatal icterus, abdominal pain, anomalies, and fast efficiency formula.Conclusion: Results showed that neonatal nutrition related to mothers and neonate factors. Based on the result of this study, we found the important of knowledge and attitude deficiency in breastfeeding among mothers. To achieve the progress in breastfeeding s rate, social supports and mother’s education must be provided.

Keywords:

Content analysis , qualitative study , formula , neonatal factors , infant nutrition