Mothers' sociodemographic factors and use of health professionals for child feeding advice

This study examined sociodemographic factors associated with mothers seeking child feeding advice from health professionals (HPs). Cross-sectional analysis of survey data from linked randomized controlled trials was conducted. Surveys asked which sources of feeding information mothers used when their child was 6 months and 5 years old. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between sociodemographic characteristics and use of information from HPs. Here, 947 and 405 mothers completed 6-month and 5-year surveys, respectively. At 6 months, multiparous mothers were less likely to seek advice from child and family health nurses (CFHNs) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.558, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.416-0.749) and other HPs (AOR: 0.706, 95% CI: 0.542-0.919), unmarried mothers were less likely to seek advice from other HPs (AOR: 0.582, 95% CI: 0.342-0.990). At 5 years, mothers with household income >=$80,000 p.a. were less likely to seek advice from CFHNs (AOR: 0.514, 95% CI: 0.302-0.875) and working mothers less likely to seek advice from general practitioners (GPs) (AOR: 0.581, 95% CI: 0.374-0.905). Mothers born in Australia were less likely to seek information from CFHNs (AOR: 0.462, 95% CI: 0.257-0.833) and GPs (AOR: 0.431, 95% CI: 0.274-0.677). There was a greater likelihood that multiparous mothers (AOR: 2.114, 95% CI: 1.272-3.516) and mothers of children whose fathers had not attended university (AOR: 2.081, 95% CI: 1.256-3.449) had never sought advice from CFHNs, and that mothers who had not attended university (AOR: 1.769, 95% CI: 1.025-3.051), multiparous (AOR: 1.831, 95% CI: 1.105-3.035) and employed (AOR: 2.058, 95% CI: 1.135-3.733) mothers had never sought advice from other HPs. Understanding sociodemographic factors associated with seeking child feeding advice from HPs may inform priorities for engaging families in health promotion. Mothers often seek child feeding information from primary health professionals in early life. Attention should be given to engaging multiparous mothers, those without a university education and employed mothers in preventive care. Evidence-based feeding information should also be available to mothers online and through peer-learning models.image Many mothers seek infant and child feeding advice from primary health professionals, particularly in the first year of life, with engagement declining at age 5 years.Health promotion efforts in primary care settings should prioritize increased engagement of multiparous mothers, those without university education and those in employment.The internet and peers are important sources of infant and child feeding information for mothers, it is important that evidence-based information is available to mothers online and through peer-learning models.

Automated summary

This study explores the association between sociodemographic factors and mothers seeking child feeding advice from health professionals. The findings indicate that different sociodemographic characteristics have an influence on the willingness to seek child feeding advice at different stages. It is important to prioritize engagement and support for multiparous mothers, those without a university education, and employed mothers in health promotion efforts.