Table 3.
Mothers' knowledge of the benefits of breastfeeding: A comprehensive analysis and analysis by level of education and socio-economic status.
| Breastfeeding Benefits |
Mother's Educational Status |
P value | Mother's Economic Status |
P value |
Overall Analysis |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illiterate n = 27 |
Primary n = 56 |
Secondary n = 177 |
High n = 37 |
Low n = 83 |
Medium n = 214 |
n = 297 | |||
| EB for about 6 months is the optimal feeding of infants | .033*** | .013*** | |||||||
| Yes | 24 (8.4) | 52 (18.2) | 173 (60.5) | 37 (12.9) | 76 (26.6) | 210 (73.4) | 286 (96.7) | ||
| No | 3 (27.3) | 4 (36.4) | 4 (36.4) | 0 (0) | 7 (63.6) | 4 (36.4) | 11 (3.7) | ||
| EB protects against diseases, such as otitis media, acute diarrheal disease, lower respiratory illnesses | .044*** | .429** | |||||||
| Yes | 23 (8.3) | 53 (19.1) | 165 (59.4) | 37 (13.3) | 76 (27.3) | 202 (72.7) | 278 (93.6) | ||
| No | 4 (21.1) | 3 (15.8) | 12 (63.2) | 0 (0) | 7 (36.8) | 12 (63.2) | 19 (6.4) | ||
| BF prevented a major portion of illness before the immunization against infectious diseases | <.001*** | <.001** | |||||||
| Yes | 11 (4.8) | 24 (10.6) | 157 (69.2) | 35 (15.4) | 35 (15.4) | 192 (84.6) | 227 (76.4) | ||
| No | 16 (22.9) | 32 (45.7) | 20 (28.6) | 2 (2.9) | 48 (68.6) | 22 (31.4) | 70 (23 .6) | ||
| BF has been associated with a decrease in the risk for both breast and ovarian cancers | <.001*** | <.001** | |||||||
| Yes | 12 (5.1) | 33 (14.1) | 156 (66.7) | 33 (14.1) | 45 (19.2) | 189 (80.8) | 234 (78.8) | ||
| No | 15 (23.8) | 23 (36.5) | 21 (33.3) | 4 (6.3) | 38 (60.3) | 25 (39.7) | 63 (21.2) | ||
| BF mothers have decreased postpartum blood loss and more rapid involution of the uterus | <.001** | <.001** | |||||||
| Yes | 11 (6.1) | 23 (12.7) | 120 (66.3) | 27 (14.9) | 34 (18.8) | 147 (81.2) | 181 (60.9) | ||
| No | 16 (13.8) | 33 (28.4) | 57 (49.1) | 10 (8.6) | 49 (42.2) | 67 (57.8) | 116 (39.1) | ||
| Maternal-infant bonding is enhanced during BF | .491*** | .522** | |||||||
| Yes | 22 (8.2) | 51 (19.1) | 160 (59.9) | 34 (12.7) | 73 (27.3) | 194 (72.7) | 267 (89.9) | ||
| No | 5 (16.7) | 5 (16.7) | 17 (56.7) | 3 (10) | 10 (33.3) | 20 (66.7) | 30 (10.1) | ||
| BF results in reduced household expenditure for formula, as well as reductions in health care expenditures | .784*** | .520*** | |||||||
| Yes | 26 (9.1) | 55 (19.3) | 169 (59.3) | 35 (12.3) | 81 (28.4) | 204 (71.6) | 285 (96) | ||
| No | 1 (8.3) | 1 (8.3) | 8 (66.7) | 2 (16.7) | 2 (16.7) | 10 (83.3) | 12 (4) | ||
| Breast milk promotes long-term cognitive development | <.001*** | <.001*** | |||||||
| Yes | 9 (4.2) | 21 (9.8) | 153 (71.5) | 31 (14.5) | 30 (14) | 184 (86) | 214 (72 .1) | ||
| No | 18 (21.7) | 35 (42.2) | 24 (28.9) | 6 (7.2) | 53 (63.9) | 30 (36.1) | 83 (27.9) | ||
| The variable composition of human milk provides nutrients specifically adapted to the changing needs of the infant | .002** | .001** | |||||||
| Yes | 14 (6.1) | 39 (17) | 145 (63.3) | 31 (13.5) | 53 (23.1) | 176 (76.9) | 229 (77.1) | ||
| No | 13 (19.1) | 17 (25) | 32 (47.1) | 6 (8.8) | 30 (44.1) | 38 (55.9) | 68 (22.9) | ||
| Breast milk features are not found in infant formula | <.001*** | <.001** | |||||||
| Yes | 3 (1.4) | 9 (4.2) | 167 (78.4) | 34 (16) | 12 (5.6) | 201 (94.4) | 213 (71.7) | ||
| No | 24 (28.6) | 47 (56) | 10 (11.9) | 3 (3.6) | 71 (84.5) | 13 (15.5) | 84 (28.3) | ||
| Postpartum weight loss may be facilitated in BF women | <.001*** | <.001*** | |||||||
| Yes | 0 (0) | 3 (2.1) | 111 (77.6) | 29 (20.3) | 3 (2.1) | 140 (97.9) | 143 (48.1) | ||
| No | 27 (17.5) | 53 (34.4) | 66 (42.9) | 8 (5.2) | 80 (51.9) | 74 (48.1) | 154 (51.9) | ||
Note: Values are expressed as count and percentage; BF = breastfeeding; EB = exclusive breastfeeding.
**Chi-Square test; *** Fisher's test. p < .05 is considered to be significant.