WEBSTER N, LANE S; International Society of Technology Assessment in Health Care. Meeting.
Annu Meet Int Soc Technol Assess Health Care Int Soc Technol Assess Health Care Meet. 2001; 17: abstract no. 268.
Onondaga County Health Department, 421 Montgomery Street, Syracuse, New York, USA 13202
Introduction - Breastfeeding when compared to infant formula provides many added medical, social, and economic benefits to the infant and mother. Infant formula on the other hand puts infants at an increased risk for SIDS, diabetes, bacterial infections, and exposure to chemicals due to error in the production process. A widespread practice across the United States is for hospitals to accept free samples of infant formula from formula companies and give them out to new mothers in discharge packs. Studies have shown that mothers who were given free samples of infant formula upon discharge breastfeed for a shorter period of time than mothers who were not given formula. Infant formula companies have contracts with 95% of the hospitals in the United States, binding the hospitals to give out the formula samples to new mothers if they are to receive it free.Methods - The hospital protocols for three birth hospitals in Central New York State pertaining to infant formula representatives were reviewed, and compared to protocols pertaining to pharmaceutical representatives. Also, key informant staff at the three birthing hospitals were asked about the behavior and practices of infant formula representatives on hospital birthing floors.Results - Hospitals through their policies differentiate between infant formula and pharmaceutical representatives. The actions of pharmaceutical representatives are much more controlled, where infant formula representatives are allowed access to hospital floors and formula storage without supervision. According to staff, infant formula representatives have given out lottery tickets, key chains, snacks, free formula, pens, and mugs.Conclusions - Ethical questions are raised by the hospital practice of accepting free infant formula and giving it out to new mothers. In some cases the actions and interests of the infant formula companies may compel hospitals to act against their own interest of optimal health for patients.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Breast Feeding
- Delivery of Health Care
- Demography
- Health
- Health Facilities
- Health Promotion
- Health Services
- Hospitals
- Humans
- Infant
- Infant Food
- Infant Formula
- Infant Nutrition Physiology
- Infant Welfare
- Marketing of Health Services
- Maternal-Child Health Centers
- Mothers
- New York
- Patient Discharge
- United States
- economics
- organization & administration
- hsrmtgs
Other ID:
UI: 102274600
From Meeting Abstracts