Mothers’ Attitudes Towards Breastfeeding in Terms of Health Safety and Professional Lactation Education: A National Survey of Women

Figures & data

Table 1 Characteristics of the Surveyed Women

Number of Women 439
Average Age 31; Age Range 19–45 Years Old; (SD=5)
Place of Residence
	n	%
City	288	65.6
Village	151	34.4
Education
	n	%
Higher	314	71.5
Secondary	104	23.7
Vocational	17	3.9
Primary	4	0.9
Delivery
	n	%
Natural	231	52.6
Assisted	208	47.4
Average number of births 2; SD 1
Number of births
	n	%
One	243	55.35
Two	97	23.3
Three	74	16.8
Four	24	5.5
Five	1	0.2
Professional activity
	n	%
Employed	287	65.4
Studying	19	4.3
Unemployed	133	30,3
Marital status
	n	%
Married	378	86.1
In a partnership	55	12.5
Divorced	6	1.4

Table 2 Analysis of the Dependence Between the Subjective Assessment of Women’s Knowledge About the Benefits of Breastfeeding for the Child and the Duration of Breastfeeding (n=439)

Duration of breastfeeding	Little		Lots of		Chi-square	p
	n	%	n	%
Until the 1st month of baby’s life	9	20.5%	33	8.3%	24.363	<0.001*
Over the 1st month of the baby’s life	10	22.7%	50	12.7%
Unit the 6th month of the baby’s life	11	25.0%	47	11.9%
Over the 6th month of the baby’s life	7	15.9%	64	16.2%
Over the 12th month of the baby’s life	7	15.9%	201	50.9%

Notes: *Value of p statistically significant.

Table 3 Analysis of the Dependence Between the Subjective Assessment of Women’s Knowledge About the Benefits of Breastfeeding for the Mother and the Duration of Breastfeeding (n=439)

Duration of breastfeeding	Little		Lots of		Chi-square	p
	n	%	n	%
Until the 1st month of baby’s life	17	13.0%	23	7.7%	21.111	0.007*
Over the 1st month of the baby’s life	26	19.8%	31	10.4%
Unit the 6th month of the baby’s life	18	13.7%	38	12.8%
Over the 6th month of the baby’s life	24	18.3%	46	15.4%
Over the 12th month of the baby’s life	46	35.2%	160	53.7%

Notes: *Value of p statistically significant.

Table 4 Opinions of the Surveyed Women on the Given Statements Contained in the IIFAS Questionnaire (n=439)

Statements	Definitely Not		Rather Not		I Have No Opinion		Rather Yes		Definitely Yes		M
	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%
The benefits of last only as long as the baby is breastfed	218	49.7%	133	30.3%	35	8.0%	37	8.4%	16	3.6%	1.86
Formula feeding is more convenient than breastfeeding.	193	44.0%	114	26.0%	52	11.8%	58	13.2%	22	5.0%	2.09
Breastfeeding increases the mother-infant bonding.	27	6.2%	8	1.8%	10	2.3%	46	10.5%	348	79.2%	4.55
Breast milk is lacking in iron.	151	34.4%	141	32.1%	121	27.6%	21	4.8%	5	1.1%	2.06
Formula-fed babies are more likely to be overfed than breastfed babies.	45	10.3%	104	23.7%	128	29.2%	105	23.8%	57	13.0%	3.06
Formula feeding is a better choice for a mother who wants to go back to work.	94	21.5%	113	25.7%	98	22.3%	104	23.7%	30	6.8%	2.69
Formula-feeding mothers lose one of the greatest joys of motherhood.	131	29.8%	87	19.8%	81	18.5%	63	14.4%	77	17.5%	2.7
Women should not breastfeed in public places such as restaurants.	232	52.8%	80	18.2%	72	16.4%	26	6.0%	29	6.6%	1.95
Breastfed babies are healthier than formula-fed babies.	51	11.6%	62	14.1%	104	23.7%	111	25.3%	111	25.3%	3.38
Breastfed babies are more likely to be overfed than formula-fed babies.	179	40.8%	143	32.6%	93	21.2%	14	3.2%	10	2.2%	1.94
Fathers feel left out if mothers breastfeed their baby.	176	40.1%	162	36.9%	66	15.0%	26	5.9%	9	2.1%	1.93
Breast milk is the ideal food for babies	31	7.1%	12	2.7%	16	3.6%	65	14.8%	315	71.8%	4.41
Breast milk is more easily digested than formula.	27	6.2%	25	5.7%	62	14.1%	84	19.1%	241	54.9%	4.11
Formula is as healthy for an infant as breast milk.	119	27.1%	126	28.7%	103	23.5%	76	17.3%	15	3.4%	2.41
Breastfeeding is more convenient than formula.	40	9.1%	45	10.3%	59	13.4%	77	17.5%	218	49.7%	3.88
Breast milk is cheaper than formula.	27	6.2%	10	2.3%	13	3.0%	43	9.8%	346	78.7%	4.53
A mother who occasionally drinks alcohol should not breastfeed her baby.	72	16.4%	77	17.5%	51	11.6%	71	16.2%	168	38.3%	3.42
IIFAS overall score: 50.97

Notes: Adapted with permission from de la Mora A, Russell DW, Dungy CI, et al. The Iowa Infant feeding attitude scale: analysis of reliability and validity. J App Soc Psychol. 1999;29(11):2362–2380.²⁸

de la Mora A, Russell DW, Dungy CI, et al. The Iowa Infant feeding attitude scale: analysis of reliability and validity. J App Soc Psychol. 1999;29(11):2362–2380. doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.1999.tb00115.x

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar