Table 2.

Rural Infant Feeding Study (RIFS) participants’ infant feeding attitudes using the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitudes Scale (IIFAS) (n = 427)

Item	Disagreea		Neutral		Agreeb
	(%)	n	(%)	n	(%)	n
1. The nutritional benefits of breast milk last only until the baby is weaned from breast milk	71.6	300	17.7	74	10.7	45
2. Formula-feeding is more convenient than breast-feeding	72.4	305	17.3	73	10.2	43
3. Breast-feeding increases mother-infant bonding	5.8	25	32.3	35	85.9	367
4. Breast milk is lacking in iron	62.3	266	30.9	132	5.2	22
5. Formula-fed babies are more likely to be overfed than breast-fed babies	26.9	115	41.7	178	31.4	134
6. Formula-feeding is the better choice if the mother works outside the home	50.8	217	33.5	143	15.7	67
7. Mothers who formula-feed miss one of the great joys of motherhood	33.2	142	24.6	105	42.2	180
8. Women should not breast-feed in public places such as restaurants	89.9	384	6.6	28	3.5	15
9. Babies who are fed breast milk are healthier than babies who are fed formula	25.3	108	31.6	135	43.1	184
10. Breast-fed babies are more likely to be overfed than formula-fed babies	64.9	277	31.8	136	3.3	14
11. Fathers feel left out if a mother breast-feeds	67.0	286	22.7	97	10.3	44
12. Breast milk is the ideal food for babies	4.4	19	8.0	34	87.6	374
13. Breast milk is more easily digested than formula	4.9	21	22.2	95	72.8	311
14. Formula is as healthy for an infant as breast milk	44.5	190	40.0	171	15.7	66
15. Breast-feeding is more convenient than formula-feeding	9.8	42	17.8	76	72.4	309
16. Breast milk is less expensive than formula	3.0	13	2.8	12	94.1	402
17. A mother who occasionally drinks alcohol should not breast-feed her baby	46.1	197	29.7	127	24.1	103

Note: The items 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, and 17 were reversed when calculating the score

^a Disagree includes ‘strongly disagree’ and ‘disagree’

^b Agree includes ‘strongly agree’ and ‘agree’