(P20-013-24) Influence of Birthplace on Infant Feeding Practices in Mexico

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between maternal place of birth and infant feeding practices in Mexico.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included mothers of infants less than 4 months of age attending primary health care centers in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. We used 2 categories for migrant status based on participants´ reported place of birth: native women from the state of Baja California (BC) and internal migrants (born in any other state in Mexico). Infant feeding practices (exclusive breastfeeding, use of formula and exclusive formula feeding) were evaluated with a 24-hour recall method. Logistic regression models were applied to determine the associations between place of birth and infant feeding practices.

Results: Among the 433 participants included in the study, 205 were native to BC (47%) and 228 were internal migrants (53%). Mothers had a mean age of 26.6 years and infants had a mean age of 1.8 months. IFP prevalences were 44.3% for exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), 51% for use of formula and 15% for exclusive formula feeding (EFF). Internal migrants reported lower prevalence of EFF than women native to BC (9.6% vs 21%, p=0.001). Concurrently, there was a lower probability of EFF in the group of internal migrants compared to natives to BC (OR 0.35, 95% CI, 0.19- 0.65).

Conclusions: Our findings are consistent with other studies that have found a high use of infant formula in Northern Mexico. Internal migrant status might be another socio-cultural determinant affecting infant feeding practices in Mexico. Additional studies are needed to characterize this association in order to develop strategies to improve breastfeeding support.

Funding Sources: This work was supported by: Convocatoria de fortalecimiento de cuerpos académicos 2019, UABC-CA-305, Programa para el Desarrollo profesional docente (Prodep), Secretaria de Educación Pública, México.