Table 3.
Characteristics of sample for each independent variable (n = 764)
| Factor | No | % |
| Had antenatal intention to breastfeed 6 months or more | 203 | 26.6 |
| Had postnatal intention to breastfeed 6 months or more | 511 | 66.9 |
| Desire to breastfeed | ||
| Very strong desire to breastfeed | 595 | 77.9 |
| Desire to breastfeed goes up and down | 120 | 15.7 |
| Sometimes think bottle (formula) feeding preferable | 46 | 6.0 |
| I think bottle (formula) feeding is preferable | 3 | 0.4 |
| Confidence in breastfeeding ability | ||
| Feel confident in ability to breastfeed baby | 360 | 47.1 |
| Breastfeeding difficult now but hope will get easier | 368 | 48.1 |
| Not feeling confident in ability to breastfeed baby | 36 | 4.7 |
| Partner's view of breastfeeding | ||
| My partner would prefer me to breastfeed | 498 | 65.2 |
| My partner does not mind how I feed the baby | 22 | 2.9 |
| My partner is supportive either way | 232 | 30.4 |
| My partner would prefer me to formula feed | 8 | 1.2 |
| Not sure | 4 | 0.5 |
| Family's view of breastfeeding | ||
| My family would prefer me to breastfeed | 396 | 51.8 |
| My family would prefer me to formula feed | 30 | 3.9 |
| My family is supportive either way | 311 | 40.7 |
| Not sure | 27 | 3.5 |
| Was breastfed as a baby | ||
| Breastfed as a baby | 538 | 70.4 |
| Not breastfed as baby | 190 | 24.9 |
| Own breastfeeding history not known | 36 | 4.7 |
| Smoking pre-pregnancy (number per day) | ||
| None | 487 | 63.7 |
| 1–9 | 110 | 14.4 |
| 10–19 | 100 | 13.1 |
| 20–29 | 57 | 7.5 |
| 30–39 | 4 | 0.5 |
| > 40 | 2 | 0.3 |
| Did not answer question | 4 | 0.5 |
| Maternal body mass index | ||
| Underweight (< 20) | 105 | 13.7 |
| Normal weight (20–25) | 477 | 62.4 |
| Overweight (> 25 and < 30) | 104 | 13.6 |
| Obese (>= 30) | 78 | 10.2 |
| Baby admitted to special care | 81 | 10.6 |
| Gestation | 702 | 91.9 |
| Breastfed within 1 hour of birth | 426 | 55.8 |
| Received formula in hospital | 217 | 28.4 |
| Completed secondary education | 589 | 77.1 |
| Tertiary education | ||
| Not comp degree/diploma | 343 | 44.9 |
| Completing degree/diploma | 58 | 7.6 |
| Completed degree/diploma | 363 | 47.5 |
| Family income (AUD) | ||
| <$20,000 | 102 | 13.4 |
| $20–30,000 | 87 | 11.4 |
| $30–40,000 | 116 | 15.2 |
| $40–50,000 | 84 | 11.0 |
| > $50,000 | 331 | 43.3 |
| Income category not completed | 44 | 5.8 |
| Region of birth | ||
| Australia | 535 | 70.0 |
| Asia | 85 | 11.1 |
| Other | 144 | 18.9 |
| Employed/studying at 6 months postpartum | 229 | 30.0 |
| Attended childbirth education | 619 | 81.0 |
| Reported breastfeeding problems by day 2–4 | 455 | 59.6 |
| Rated midwife home visit* extremely helpful for breastfeeding issues | ||
| Extremely helpful | 140 | 18.3 |
| Very helpful | 301 | 39.4 |
| A little helpful | 129 | 16.9 |
| Not helpful | 53 | 6.9 |
| Did not discuss/did not have home visit | 141 | 18.5 |
| Attended breastfeeding clinic breastfeeding clinic in first few weeks | ||
| Had breastfeeding problems but did not attend clinic | 354 | 46.3 |
| Had breastfeeding problems, did attend clinic | 142 | 18.6 |
| Had no breastfeeding problems | 162 | 60.5 |
| Anxiety or depression problem in first 6 months (self-report) | 281 | 36.8 |
| Relationship problems at all in first 6 months | 101 | 13.2 |
| Age at recruitment (mean, sd) | 28.6 | (5.57) |
* In Victoria, Australia, all women receiving public maternity care are offered at least one midwife home visit postpartum, in the first few days after discharge from hospital.