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 | |||
*35 reasons were coded in 2 categories.