Poster Presentation ESA-SRB-ANZOS 2025 in conjunction with ENSA

Associations between infant feeding practices and maternal sociodemographic characteristics of Indian immigrant mothers in australia - a cross-sectional study (128921)

Chitra Tulpule 1 , Miaobing Zheng 2 , Ewa A Szymlek-Gay 1 , Kristy A Bolton 3
  1. Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Deakin University, Burwood, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  2. School of Health Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia

Suboptimal infant feeding practices can increase the risk of childhood obesity and later life chronic diseases (1). Data collected in 2010 revealed that Indian immigrant mothers in Australia were not meeting infant feeding guidelines (2). The present study examines contemporary infant feeding practices of Indian immigrant mothers in Australia and associations with maternal sociodemographic characteristics.

A cross-sectional online survey in Qualtrics, using convenience sampling, gathered infant feeding practices data (breastfeeding, formula feeding, solids and other liquids) and sociodemographic data from eligible mothers (born in India, with at least one full term child born in Australia at ≥ 37 weeks gestation, aged between 1.5 and 5 years; n=380). Regression analyses assessed the relationship between infant feeding practices and sociodemographic factors.

All mothers were married and had at least a bachelor’s degree; approximately half the mothers classified as living with overweight or obesity(47.1%); the majority were Hindus (60%) and migrated from urban India (80%). In multivariable models, every unit increase in maternal BMI (kg/m2) was associated with a 5% reduction in exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months (OR:1.05,95%CI:1.00,1.1,p=0.04,n=359) and an increased likelihood of introducing other liquids before 12 months (OR:1.06,1.00,1.12,p=0.02,n=276). Christian mothers breastfed for 2.38 months longer than Hindu mothers (β=2.38,p=0.05n=380). Mothers from remote Indian regions had a 3.45 months shorter breastfeeding duration (β=-3.45,p=0.005,n=380) and were 1.9 times more likely to exclusively breastfeed for less than 6 months (OR:1.90,1.07,3.39 p=0.02,n=359) compared to mothers from urban regions. Mothers with one child were 39% less likely to introduce formula compared to those with two or more children (OR:0.61,0.37,0.99,p=0.04,n=365).

Indian immigrant mothers did not meet infant feeding guidelines for exclusive breastfeeding, exposure to other drinks and formula. Maternal religion, Indian region of migration, parity and maternal BMI emerged as crucial determinants highlighting the need for culturally tailored health promotion initiatives targeted at this demographic.

  1. 1. Robinson SM. Infant nutrition and lifelong health: current perspectives and future challenges. J Dev Orig Health Dis. 2015;6(5):384-9.
  2. 2. Tulpule C, Zheng M, Campbell KJ, Bolton KA. Differences in infant feeding practices between Indian-born mothers and Australian-born mothers living in Australia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2022;22(1):934.