Vast Majority of Filipino Mothers Believe They Have the Right to Choose Whether to Breastfeed Their Children
Makati City, Philippines, August 23, 2007 --(PR.com)-- New survey from Mother Knows Best finds that women in the Philippines rely mostly on the advice of doctors and family – not government or media – when deciding whether to breastfeed.
A new report released by Mother Knows Best (www.mother-knows-best.org) indicates that the vast majority of Filipino mothers believe women have the right to choose whether to breastfeed their children or to provide a safe, nutritious alternative. Furthermore, the study finds that in making their decisions, more women rely on the advice of doctors, family members, and friends who have experience breastfeeding than on government brochures, media advertisements, or samples provided by hospitals.
Ninety-three percent (93%) of mothers surveyed said that a mother has the right to choose not to breastfeed, as long as she provides her baby with a safe alternative. Fully 85% of mothers surveyed rely on the advice of doctors, and 74% on the advice of family and friends, when choosing whether or not to breastfeed. Fewer than 1 in 4 mothers believe the information found in advertising on infant formula is reliable.
“Like mothers the world over, mothers in the Philippines make their children’s health and happiness their highest priority,” said Carol Rivera of Mother Knows Best. “Filipino mothers know what’s best for the well-being of their children – whether breastfeeding or a healthy alternative – and they know where to turn for the most accurate, reliable information about infant nutrition.”
The overwhelming majority (90%) of Filipino mothers of children under three years of age think that breastfeeding is best for babies, compared to only 9% who favor infant milk formula. Still, most Filipino mothers (84%) consider infant milk formula to be an acceptable alternative to breastfeeding. According to the study, 86% of mothers have breastfed their children, with about half (52%) relying exclusively on breast milk and half (48%) relying on a mix of breastfeeding and other milk options.
Among women who choose not to breastfeed, the study finds three primary reasons: medical concerns, lack of adequate breast milk production, and work.
With 39% of mothers of infant children working outside the home, interference with their jobs and lack of access to accommodations for breastfeeding or pumping milk in the workplace lead some women to rely on infant milk formula – either exclusively or on some occasions. Sixty-two percent (62%) of working mothers feel that breastfeeding interferes with their ability to sustain a job, while only 9% report that workplaces provide adequate accommodations for breastfeeding or pumping.
“Most mothers agree that breastfeeding is best and that workplaces and other public spaces should do a better job of providing the right facilities for breastfeeding. Women also believe that mothers – especially working mothers – ought to be able to choose healthy alternatives to breast milk,” said Carol.
About The Study
Mother Knows Best (www.mother-knows-best.org) is a campaign to acknowledge that breastfeeding is best for babies and that mothers who choose not to breastfeed have the proper information and knowledge on suitable alternatives. The Mother Knows Best survey entitled, “A Study of Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Breastfeeding vs. Infant Milk Formula Among Mothers in the Philippines” was conducted via telephone between July 23 and August 1, 2007. The survey was conducted by the independent research firm Consensus Research Group, Inc. with offices in Beijing, New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Düsseldorf. The survey reached a representative cross-section of 500 mothers of children under three years of age, distributed proportionate to population in the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao island groups. The survey’s margin of error is +/- 4 percentage points.
Media contact:
Jasmin Rodil-Cagsawa, Ardent Communications, Philippines
(02) 887-1753
jasmin@ardent.com.ph
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A new report released by Mother Knows Best (www.mother-knows-best.org) indicates that the vast majority of Filipino mothers believe women have the right to choose whether to breastfeed their children or to provide a safe, nutritious alternative. Furthermore, the study finds that in making their decisions, more women rely on the advice of doctors, family members, and friends who have experience breastfeeding than on government brochures, media advertisements, or samples provided by hospitals.
Ninety-three percent (93%) of mothers surveyed said that a mother has the right to choose not to breastfeed, as long as she provides her baby with a safe alternative. Fully 85% of mothers surveyed rely on the advice of doctors, and 74% on the advice of family and friends, when choosing whether or not to breastfeed. Fewer than 1 in 4 mothers believe the information found in advertising on infant formula is reliable.
“Like mothers the world over, mothers in the Philippines make their children’s health and happiness their highest priority,” said Carol Rivera of Mother Knows Best. “Filipino mothers know what’s best for the well-being of their children – whether breastfeeding or a healthy alternative – and they know where to turn for the most accurate, reliable information about infant nutrition.”
The overwhelming majority (90%) of Filipino mothers of children under three years of age think that breastfeeding is best for babies, compared to only 9% who favor infant milk formula. Still, most Filipino mothers (84%) consider infant milk formula to be an acceptable alternative to breastfeeding. According to the study, 86% of mothers have breastfed their children, with about half (52%) relying exclusively on breast milk and half (48%) relying on a mix of breastfeeding and other milk options.
Among women who choose not to breastfeed, the study finds three primary reasons: medical concerns, lack of adequate breast milk production, and work.
With 39% of mothers of infant children working outside the home, interference with their jobs and lack of access to accommodations for breastfeeding or pumping milk in the workplace lead some women to rely on infant milk formula – either exclusively or on some occasions. Sixty-two percent (62%) of working mothers feel that breastfeeding interferes with their ability to sustain a job, while only 9% report that workplaces provide adequate accommodations for breastfeeding or pumping.
“Most mothers agree that breastfeeding is best and that workplaces and other public spaces should do a better job of providing the right facilities for breastfeeding. Women also believe that mothers – especially working mothers – ought to be able to choose healthy alternatives to breast milk,” said Carol.
About The Study
Mother Knows Best (www.mother-knows-best.org) is a campaign to acknowledge that breastfeeding is best for babies and that mothers who choose not to breastfeed have the proper information and knowledge on suitable alternatives. The Mother Knows Best survey entitled, “A Study of Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Breastfeeding vs. Infant Milk Formula Among Mothers in the Philippines” was conducted via telephone between July 23 and August 1, 2007. The survey was conducted by the independent research firm Consensus Research Group, Inc. with offices in Beijing, New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Düsseldorf. The survey reached a representative cross-section of 500 mothers of children under three years of age, distributed proportionate to population in the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao island groups. The survey’s margin of error is +/- 4 percentage points.
Media contact:
Jasmin Rodil-Cagsawa, Ardent Communications, Philippines
(02) 887-1753
jasmin@ardent.com.ph
###
Contact
Mother Knows Best
Jasmin Rodil-Cagsawa
(02) 887-1753
www.mother-knows-best.org
Jasmin Rodil-Cagsawa
(02) 887-1753
www.mother-knows-best.org
Contact
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