Table 2.
Feeding practices of informally working mothers
| All Mothers N = 247 (%) | Domestic Workers N = 77 (%) | Informal traders N = 170 (%) |
P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mother initiated breastfeeding | 208 (84.2) | 68 (88.3) | 140 (82.4) | 0.23 |
| Mother has given the baby expressed breastmilk at any time | 76 (30.7) | 29 (37.6) | 47 (27.6) | 0.11 |
| Mother reports ever having taken the baby to work with her | 130 (52.6%) | 36 (46.7%) | 94 (55.3%) | 0.21 |
| Mothers’ perceptions of breastfeeding in the workplace | ||||
| Mother reports she would feel comfortable taking her child to work | 101 (40.9%) | 43 (55.8%) | 58 (34.1%) | 0.001 |
| Mother reports she would be able to breastfeed while at work | 121 (49.0%) | 40 (51.9%) | 81 (47.6%) | 0.53 |
| Mother reports she would be able to express breastmilk while at work | 61 (24.7%) | 30 (39.0%) | 31 (18.2%) | 0.005 |
| Current feeding practice | ||||
| Currently breastfeeding | 112 (45.3) | 26 (33.8) | 86 (50.6) | 0.01 |
| Stopped breastfeeding | 96 (46.1) | 42 (61.8) | 54 (38.1) | 0.001 |
| Never breastfed | 39 (15.8) | 9 (11.7) | 30 (17.6) | 0.265 |
| Main reason for stopping breastfeeding (mothers who have stopped breastfeeding) | ||||
| N = 96 | N = 42 | N = 54 | ||
| Experiences of breastfeeding | 11 (9.3) | 4 (9.5) | 7 (13.0) | 0.75 |
| Had to go back to work /be away from the baby | 34 (35.1) | 17 (40.5) | 17 (31.5) | 0.36 |
| Mothers health including HIV infection | 14 (14.4) | 7 (16.7) | 7 (13.0) | 0.61 |
| Advised to stop breastfeeding (by health worker or family member) | 8 (8.3) | 5 (6.5) | 3 (5.3) | 0.19 |
| Other reason | 29 (30.2) | 9 (21.4) | 20 (37.0) | 0.14 |
data in bold represents P < 0.05