Table 1.
Characteristics of participants and comparative weaning ages
| Characteristics of sample (n = 3607) | Weaning age (weeks) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n (%) ¶ | Mean | SD | Median | P (Kruskal–Wallis) | |
| Maternal age (mean 33.0, SD 5.0 years) | <0.001 | ||||
| ≤25 | 243 (7) | 21 | 5.0 | 21* | |
| 26–33 | 1689 (48) | 23 | 4.5 | 24* | |
| 34–38 | 1135 (33) | 23 | 3.9 | 24* | |
| 39+ | 485 (14) | 23 | 4.0 | 24* | |
| In receipt of benefits | 0.005 | ||||
| No | 2887 (90) | 23 | 4.2 | 24 | |
| Yes | 305 (10) | 22 | 5.3 | 23 | |
| Marital status | 0.007 | ||||
| Single | 160 (5) | 22 | 5.6 | 22 † | |
| Co‐habiting | 531 (16) | 22 | 4.6 | 23 † | |
| Married | 2632 (78) | 23 | 4.2 | 24 † | |
| Divorced | 35 (1) | 23 | 3.9 | 24 † | |
| Educational attainment | <0.001 | ||||
| To 16 | 277 (8) | 22 | 4.8 | 22 ‡ | |
| To 18 (HND/HNC or equiv) | 397 (12) | 21 | 4.7 | 22 ‡ | |
| To 18 (A level) | 398 (12) | 22 | 4.8 | 23 ‡ | |
| Degree+/equivalent | 2220 (67) | 23 | 4.0 | 24 ‡ | |
| Antenatal classes | <0.001 | ||||
| Have never attended | 383 (11) | 22 | 4.2 | 22 | |
| Have previously attended | 3078 (89) | 23 | 5.3 | 24 | |
| Feeding method 0–8 weeks | <0.001 | ||||
| Exclusive breastfeeding | 2436 (72) | 23 | 4.0 | 24 § | |
| Formula milk only | 461 (14) | 20 | 4.5 | 20 § | |
| Mixed feeding (breast/formula) | 497 (15) | 22 | 4.2 | 22 § | |
HNC, Higher National Certificate; HND, Higher National Diploma; SD, standard deviation. *No significant difference between 26–33 and 34–38 years, <25 and 26–33, <25 and 34–38, <25 and 39+ (P < 0.001); 26–33 and 39+ (P = 0.002); 34–38 and 39+ (P = 0.006). †Significant differences between single and co‐habiting (P = 0.035), and single and married (P = 0.001). ‡Significant differences between General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and degree+, HND (or equiv) and degree+, degree and A level P < 0.001; HND (or equivalent) and A level P = 0.015. §Significant differences between all groups (P < 0.001). ¶Valid percentages shown throughout.