Table 4 Summary table of content analysis of reasons behind feeding intentions of study participants
Type of feeding | Category | Themes (in descending order of frequency) | Number of codes | Percentage of intention category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
BREASTFEEDING | ||||
Breastfeeding reasons (N = 244 women, n = 648 reasons)* | Breast is best | • Healthy/good for baby and/or mum | 403 | 59.0% |
• Nutritious food for baby | ||||
*NB 35 reasons were coded in 2 categories | • Help mum to lose weight | |||
Emotions | • Helps bonding | 132 | 19.3% | |
• Natural | ||||
• Comfortable | ||||
• Happy baby/mother | ||||
• Negative feelings about formula | ||||
• Happy | ||||
Easier | • Convenient | 103 | 15.1% | |
• Easier | ||||
• Cheaper | ||||
• Hygienic | ||||
Social norms | • Influence of others | 12 | 1.8% | |
• Moral duty | ||||
Past behaviour | • Breast fed previous child | 8 | 1.2% | |
Motivation | • I want to breastfeed | 6 | 0.9% | |
Uncertainty | • May not work | 4 | 0.6% | |
Could not code | 15 | 2.2% | ||
TOTAL BREASTFEEDING | 683 | 100% | ||
MIXED-FEEDING | ||||
Breastfeeding reasons within Mixed-feeding intentions | ||||
Mixed-feeding reasons: N = 41 women, n = 102 reasons | Breast is best | • Healthy/good for baby and/or mum | 47 | 46.1% |
• Nutritious food for baby | ||||
• Help mum to lose weight | ||||
Emotions | • Helps bonding | 19 | 18.6% | |
• Natural | ||||
Easier | • Cheaper | 5 | 4.9% | |
• Convenient | ||||
• Easier | ||||
Social norms | • Influence of other people | 2 | 2.0% | |
Motivation | • I want to give breast milk | 1 | 1.0% | |
Total breastfeeding related reasons | 74 | 72.50% | ||
Bottle-feeding reasons within Mixed-feeding intentions | ||||
Confidence | • Knowing that baby is full | 10 | 9.8% | |
• Uncertainty about ability to breastfeed | ||||
Easier | • Allows others to feed baby | 4 | 3.9% | |
• Convenient | ||||
• Easier | ||||
Emotions | • Breastfeeding affects appearance of breast | 3 | 2.9% | |
• Allows others to bond with baby | ||||
Total bottle-feeding related reasons | 17 | 16.7% | ||
Could not code | 11 | 10.2% | ||
TOTAL MIXED-FEEDING | 102 | 100% | ||
BOTTLE-FEEDING | ||||
Bottle-feeding reasons, N = 59 women, n = 121 reasons) | Easier | • Allow others to feed baby | 39 | 32.2% |
• Easier | ||||
• Convenient | ||||
• Routine | ||||
Emotions | • Negative experience of breastfeeding | 27 | 22.3% | |
• Allow others to bond | ||||
• Comfortable | ||||
• Other child doesn’t feel excluded | ||||
Confidence | • Knowing baby is full | 20 | 16.5% | |
• Confidence in bottle-feeding | ||||
• Uncertainty about ability to breastfeed | ||||
Motivation | • I don’t want to breastfeed | 13 | 10.7% | |
• I want to bottle-feed | ||||
Past behaviour | • Bottle fed previous child | 7 | 5.8% | |
Good | • Bottle-feeding good for baby | 2 | 1.7% | |
Social norms | • Influence of other people | 2 | 1.7% | |
Uncertainty | • May change my mind | 2 | 1.7% | |
Control | • Might have no control over breastfeeding (e.g. unable for medical reasons) | 1 | 0.8% | |
Could not code | 8 | 6.6% | ||
TOTAL BOTTLE-FEEDING | 121 | 100% | ||
GRAND TOTAL | 871 | |||