Health, morality, and infant feeding: Hong Kong mothers' experiences of formula milk use

Abstract

Internationally, how mothers feed their babies arouses academic interest, public discussions and stimulates health policy initiatives. The common discourse in advanced countries, like Britain, affirms the mantra 'breast is best'. The pro-breastfeeding message has been considered an aspect of morality which stereotypes the mothers who feed their babies with formula milk in significant ways. However, in Hong Kong since 2010, the provision of formula milk to the babies is not only considered as the moral responsibility of the parents, but has further been advocated as a basic right of its citizens. This article uses this phenomenon as a lens to discuss health, morality and identity. By discussing some findings from a study about Hong Kong's mothers' experiences of breast-feeding and using formula milk for infant feeding, this paper endeavors to explore the political and socio-cultural factors in explaining the contrasting differences in the idea of morality and maternal identity under the influence of the institutions of medicine.