Sociocultural and parental influences on infant feeding practices: a qualitative study with mothers of children under two years of age in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Infant feeding practices are determined not only by biological and developmental needs, by also by psycho-affective, socioeconomic, and cultural factors, which have received limited research in Brazil. Objective: Understand the sociocultural and parental aspects that influence infant feeding practices. Method: This is a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with mothers in two cities in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in November and December 2017. The choice of this technique aimed to elucidate the mothers´ own reflections on their infant feeding practices. Interviews were conducted until reaching the necessary saturation point for identification of recurrent meanings. Thematic content analysis was performed with the empirical material, using the QRS Nvivo software. Interpretation of the empirical material was based on the theoretical-methodological references of common sense, food culture, meanings, and autonomy. Results: The following categories were identified: food culture, influence of social relations, attributes of ultra-processed foods, and parental aspects. In the current study, the sociocultural aspects that emerged from the mothers´ discourse included classification of foods, influence of social actors, and attributes of ultra-processed foods. The parental practices featured parenting behaviors in specific contexts and those inherent to the child. Conclusions: Such aspects influenced food choices and should be acknowledged and understood by healthcare workers in order to empower their role in the promotion of healthy feeding and family counseling.