Table 6 Variables assessed in relation to breastfeeding in Phase 1 of this studya
From: Breastfeeding practices 2008–2009 among Chinese mothers living in Ireland: a mixed methods study
Total population | CMC | CMI | |
|---|---|---|---|
(n = 322) | (n = 47) | (n = 275) | |
No. (%) | No. (%) | No. (%) | |
Biomedical factors | |||
Obstetric experience | |||
Spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) | 260 (81.0) | 32 (68.1) | 228 (83.2) |
Caesarean section | 61 (19.0) | 15 (31.9) | 46 (16.8) |
Gestational age | |||
< 37 weeks | 23 (7.2) | 3 (6.4) | 20 (7.3) |
37–42 weeks | 264 (82.2) | 37 (78.7) | 227 (82.8) |
> 42 weeks | 34 (10.6) | 7 (14.9) | 27 (9.9) |
Maternal health condition at time of childbirthc | |||
Unhealthy | 18 (5.6) | 1 (2.1) | 17 (6.2) |
Healthy | 303 (94.4) | 46 (97.9) | 257 (93.8) |
Child’s health condition at time of childbirthc | |||
Unhealthy | 26 (8.1) | 1 (2.1) | 25 (9.1) |
Healthy | 295 (91.9) | 46 (97.9) | 249 (90.9) |
Behavioural factors | |||
Mother’s previous breastfeeding experience | |||
Had given birth to and breastfed the other child (ren) | 75 (23.4) | 0 (0) | 75 (27.85) |
Had given birth to but not breastfed any other child (ren) | 29 (9.1) | 2 (4.3) | 27 (9.9) |
Did not have birth nor breastfeeding experience | 216 (67.5) | 45 (95.7) | 171 (62.6) |
Newborn bed shared with mother | |||
Yes | 89 (27.7) | 21 (44.7) | 68 (24.8) |
No | 232 (72.3) | 26 (55.3) | 206 (75.2) |
Type of milk feeding | |||
On demand | 124 (38.6) | 17 (36.2) | 107 (39.1) |
In routine milk | 197 (61.4) | 30 (63.8) | 167 (60.9) |
1st time to breastfeed | |||
≤ 1 h after childbirth | 103 (32.7) | 8 (17.0) | 95 (35.4) |
> 1 h or never | 212 (67.3) | 39 (83.0) | 173 (64.6) |
1st time to feed with formula | |||
≥ 1 week or never | 115 (36.1) | 32 (68.1) | 83 (30.5) |
< 1 week | 204 (63.9) | 15 (31.9) | 189 (69.5) |
Timing of the introduction of other non-milk-liquids | |||
≥ 1 week or never | 289 (93.8) | 32 (71.1) | 257 (97.7) |
< 1 week | 19 (6.2) | 13 (28.9) | 6 (2.3) |
Maternal consumption of the cultural postpartum diet | |||
Yes | 173 (53.7) | 35 (74.5) | 138 (50.2) |
No | 149 (46.3) | 12 (25.5) | 137 (49.8) |
Social support and influence | |||
Feeding information obtained from internet | |||
Yes | 79 (24.6) | 7 (14.9) | 72 (26.3) |
No | 242 (75.4) | 40 (85.1) | 202 (73.7) |
Feeding information obtained from mother’s own mother | |||
Yes | 178 (55.5) | 20 (42.6) | 158 (57.7) |
No | 143 (44.5) | 27 (57.4) | 116 (42.3) |
Feeding information obtained from antenatal classes | |||
Yes | 97 (30.2) | 23 (48.9) | 74 (27.0) |
No | 224 (69.8) | 24 (51.1) | 200 (73.0) |
Her own mother’s attitude influenced her feeding choice | |||
Yes | 114 (35.6) | 14 (29.8) | 100 (36.6) |
No | 206 (64.4) | 33 (70.2) | 173 (63.4) |
Health professionals’ attitude influenced mother’s feeding choice | |||
Yes | 79 (24.7) | 12 (25.5) | 67 (24.5) |
No | 241 (75.3) | 35 (74.5) | 206 (75.5) |
Family type at time of childbirth | |||
Extended family | 86 (26.9) | 27 (57.4) | 59 (21.6) |
Nuclear family | 234 (73.1) | 20 (42.6) | 214 (78.4) |
Child was looked after by maternal grandmother | |||
Yes | 39 (12.1) | 9 (19.1) | 30 (10.9) |
No | 283 (87.9) | 38 (80.9) | 245 (89.1) |
Child was looked after by paternal grandmother | |||
Yes | 36 (11.2) | 14 (29.8) | 22 (8.0) |
No | 286 (88.8) | 33 (70.2) | 253 (92.0) |
Timing of return to work after childbirth | |||
Before 4 months | 55 (17.2) | 13 (27.7) | 42 (15.4) |
4–6 months | 86 (26.9) | 14 (29.8) | 72 (26.4) |
7–12 months | 53 (16.6) | 7 (14.9) | 46 (16.8) |
> 12 months or went back to work | 126 (39.4) | 13 (27.7) | 113 (41.4) |
Attitudinal factors | |||
Feeding decision was made | |||
Before pregnancy | 155 (49.1) | 18 (39.1) | 137 (50.7) |
During pregnancy | 109 (34.5) | 18 (39.1) | 91 (33.7) |
After the child was born | 52 (16.5) | 10 (21.7) | 42 (15.6) |
Planned breastfeeding duration | |||
≥ 4 months | 189 (58.7) | 38 (80.9) | 151 (54.9) |
< 4 months/never | 133 (41.3) | 9 (19.1) | 124 (45.1) |
Attitude towards colostrum | |||
Important for the baby | 276 (86.2) | 42 (89.4) | 234 (85.7) |
Harmful for the baby/Should be discard/Don’t know | 44 (13.8) | 5 (10.6) | 39 (14.3) |
I do not like breastfeeding | |||
Disagree | 248 (78.7) | 38 (80.9) | 210 (78.4) |
Agree/Don’t know | 67 (21.2) | 9 (19.1) | 58 (21.7) |
Formula feeding is more convenient than breastfeeding | |||
Disagree | 133 (42.0) | 26 (55.3) | 107 (39.6) |
Agree/Don’t know | 184 (58.0) | 21 (44.7) | 162 (60.4) |
I would feel embarrassed if someone saw me breastfeeding | |||
Disagree | 146 (46.1) | 27 (57.4) | 119 (44.1) |
Agree/Don’t know | 171 (53.9) | 20 (42.6) | 151 (55.9) |
Some traditional Chinese food can help to improve milk production | |||
Agree | 271 (85.2) | 41 (89.1) | 230 (84.6) |
Disagree/Don’t know | 47 (14.8) | 5 (10.9) | 42 (15.4) |
Mean ± S.D. | Mean ± S.D. | Mean ± S.D. | |
Maternal awareness (score) of the advantage of breastfeeding for the babyc | 4.04 ± 0.73 | 4.22 ± 0.69 | 4.00 ± 0.74 |