Mel Johanna Ricaldez Salvatierra
Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno (UAGRM), Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
Title:
Maternal Socio-Economic Factors and Formula Feeding Risks: An Investigation into Infant Morbidity and Preventable Hospital Admissions at the Hospital de Niños Dr. Mario Ortiz Suárez, Santa Cruz, Bolivia 2026
Abstract
Background: Despite WHO recommendations for exclusive breastfeeding, economic pressures and structural barriers lead to early formula feeding in developing countries, potentially increasing pediatric vulnerability.
Objective: To analyze the socio-economic and labor factors associated with formula feeding and evaluate its impact on clinical morbidity among infants at a tertiary public hospital in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Methods: A mixed-methods study is proposed to be conducted from January to December 2026 at the Hospital de Niños Dr. Mario Ortiz Suárez. The quantitative phase will comprise a retrospective chart review of infants aged 0–12 months admitted for gastrointestinal, nutritional, or respiratory complications. The qualitative-quantitative phase will involve structured surveys administered to mothers in outpatient waiting areas to assess employment status, water safety, and formula preparation practices.
Expected Results: The study aims to identify whether informal labor without maternity leave and high costs of commercial formulas are the primary drivers of breastfeeding abandonment. Furthermore, it intends to statistically correlate inadequate sanitation or improper powder dilution with rates of acute gastroenteritis, dehydration, and secondary malnutrition in admitted patients.
Conclusion: The findings will visualize how socio-economic vulnerability compromises safe formula feeding. This will provide a baseline for the hospital to design targeted in-hospital educational strategies on safe preparation, ultimately reducing preventable pediatric hospitalizations and infant morbidity in low-resource settings.
Biography: Mel Johanna Ricaldez Salvatierra is a medical student at Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. She is actively involved in student scientific organizations and serves as president of student scientific societies in Neurology and Dermatology. Her academic interests include pediatrics, dermatology, neurology, environmental health, and clinical research. She is particularly interested in interdisciplinary research exploring the interaction between environmental exposures and child health. Through student-led scientific initiatives, she aims to promote research collaboration and increase the participation of Bolivian medical students in international scientific forums.