Table 5.

Themes identified from qualitative studies (n = 6)

Study:	Theme:	Primary outcomes
Murray et al. 2008	2 and 3	The majority of participants did not understand the term EBF or had no idea what it could mean. ‘Regularly breastfeeding’; ‘bottle feeding’; ‘not necessarily breastfeeding’ and ‘breastfeeding and something else’ were some of the explanations provided for the term. Some mothers were unclear if EBF could include food and fluids (water and tea), majority understood EBF to mean not to give breast milk or give with other liquids.
Nduna et al. 2015	3	Mothers did not understand what constitutes of EBF. The concept remains elusive to mothers. Mothers who gave their infants water and breast milk considered themselves to have exclusively breastfed.
Nor et al. 2012	1 and 3	EBF understood as ‘not mixing two milks’ (specifically breast with formula milk). The mother's idea of EBF did not exclude the mixing of other foods and liquids. EBF was described as only drinking one type of milk.
Ostergaard & Bula 2010	2 and 3	Mothers able to paraphrase definitions of EBF. But still indicated supplementary feeding to infants. Unclear perception on what the ‘E’ stands for in EBF term.
Otoo et al. 2009	No theme	Almost all knew what EBF was. Those who were not convinced about EBF defined it correctly also.
Ukegbu et al. 2011	No theme	Most mothers knew that EBF means giving the baby breast milk only for the first 6 months of life.