ArticleBMJ open2022
They push their products through me: health professionals' perspectives on and exposure to marketing of commercial milk formula in Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa - a qualitative study.
Article in BMJ open, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Outcomes of implementing the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes as national laws: a systematic review.International breastfeeding journal · 2024Pooled it
- Attitude, Self-Reported Practices and Knowledge of Pediatricians Regarding the Recommendation of Goat-Milk-Based Formula for Management of Infantile Colic: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Determinants and temporal trajectories of exclusive breastfeeding cessation in 16 sub-Saharan African countries: a pooled multivariable survival analysis of the demographic and health survey (2019-2024).BMC public health · 2026Article
- Formative Research for the Development and Implementation of a Smartphone Application to Report Breaches to the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes in Mexico.Maternal & child nutrition · 2025Article
- Commercial influences on infant and young child feeding.Future healthcare journal · 2025Article
- Healthcare professionals' perspectives on commercial milk formula marketing in the UK: a qualitative study.Archives of disease in childhood · 2025Article
- South African health professional associations urged to end commercial milk formula industry sponsorship.Journal of the colleges of medicine of South Africa · 2025Article
- Women's exposure to commercial milk formula marketing: a WHO multi-country market research study.Globalization and health · 2024Article
- Commercial milk formula marketing entry points: setting the course of infant and young child feeding trajectories.BMC public health · 2024Article
- Commercial milk formula marketing following increased restrictions in Singapore: A qualitative study.Maternal & child nutrition · 2024Article
- Babies before business: protecting the integrity of health professionals from institutional conflict of interest.BMJ global health · 2022Article
- Questioning the ethics of international research on formula milk supplementation in low-income African countries.BMJ global health · 2022Article
- Determinants of Formula Feeding among Mothers in Indonesia: The Role of Digital Media and Microeconomic Factors.Iranian journal of nursing and midwifery researchArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveTo understand the views of public and private sector health professionals on commercial milk formula, to describe their exposure to companies that market commercial milk formula within their workplaces and to describe their awareness of South African (SA) regulations.
designA qualitative study consisting of semistructured interviews.
settingThe study was conducted in Cape Town and Johannesburg, SA.
participantsForty health professionals who had regular contact with pregnant or postnatal women were interviewed between February 2020 and February 2021.
resultsAnalysis of the interviews revealed six themes. Health professionals in the private sector reported frequent contact with industry representatives with over two-thirds reporting exposure to industry representatives to present products, provide training or sponsor educational activities. Participants held strong opinions regarding the equivalency of breastfeeding to commercial milk formula citing information from industry representatives and product packaging. Health professionals were very knowledgeable on so-called formulas for special medical purposes and these were valued as solutions to infant feeding challenges. Of the 40 health professionals interviewed, less than half (19) had ever heard of the SA regulation related to marketing of breast milk substitutes (R991).
conclusionsThis study demonstrates clearly that health professionals, particularly in the private sector, are exposed to and promote the use of commercial milk formula among SA women. The findings of this study should be used to catalyse policy responses, social movements, consumer and professional association action to strengthen monitoring and enforcement of the Code regulations in order to protect breastfeeding and support the optimal health and well-being of the population.
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Registered trials
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