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Health, morality, and infant feeding: British mothers' experiences of formula milk use in the early weeks

Lee, Ellie J. (2007) Health, morality, and infant feeding: British mothers' experiences of formula milk use in the early weeks. Sociology of Health & Illness, 29 (7). pp. 1075-1090. ISSN 0141-9889. (doi:10.1111/j.1467-9566.2007.01020.x) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:2774)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9566.2007.01020.x

Abstract

The way mothers feed their babies is, internationally, the subject of research, health policy initiatives, and popular discussion, which commonly affirm the mantra 'breast is best'. On one level, this mantra reflects scientific evidence about nutrition and maternal and infant health. From a socio-cultural perspective, the pro-breastfeeding message has, however, been considered an aspect of morality, which influences maternal identity in important ways. This article explores this idea. It does so primarily by reporting and discussing some findings from a study about British mothers' experiences of using formula milk for infant feeding. The paper begins by contextualising this discussion by briefly outlining some aspects of the construction of infant feeding as a social problem in Britain, focusing in particular on the influence of 'the new paradigm of health'.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/j.1467-9566.2007.01020.x
Uncontrolled keywords: breastfeeding; infant formula milk; morality; health
Subjects: H Social Sciences
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: Suzanne Duffy
Date Deposited: 24 Apr 2008 08:29 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:41 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/2774 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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