Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The Scottish Maternal and Infant Nutrition Survey, 2017 (MINS) was commissioned by the Scottish Government to help support the implementation of the Maternal and Infant Nutrition Framework for Action (2011). The overall aim of the survey was to gather information on maternal nutrition, breastfeeding, infant feeding and related health behaviours amongst women in Scotland in 2017.

Three separate cohorts of women were invited to self-complete a questionnaire between March and July 2017: expectant mothers who were 20+ weeks pregnant; mothers whose babies were 8-12 weeks old; mothers whose babies were 8-12 months old. More than 2,500 responses from across Scotland were received for each survey cohort.

The results of the survey were published by the Scottish Government in February 2018. The information gathered is being used to inform future Scottish Government policy and to assist health services and other organisations to design and implement effective nutritional support for families.

The decision to carry out this survey was made in response to the cancellation of the previously well established UK-wide Infant Feeding Survey (1975-2010).

This study covers the nutritional choices that expectant and new mothers make for themselves and their infants.