Table 3.
Food choice behaviors among lactating women in central Amhara from March to June 2016 (n = 423).
| Variables | n | % | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy value of a diet | |||
| Yes | 280 | 66.2 | 61.5–71.7 |
| Vitamin/mineral | 128 | 45.71 | |
| Keeping me healthy | 77 | 27.5 | |
| Reduce adverse risk | 15 | 5.36 | |
| High in protein | 43 | 15.36 | |
| Good for skin, teeth, hair, and nail | 2 | 0.71 | |
| Recommended by physicians | 15 | 5.36 | |
| No | 143 | 33.8 | 28.3–38.5 |
| Avoiding nutrient content | |||
| Yes | 144 | 34 | 29.5–39.2 |
| High in fat | 75 | 52.08 | |
| High in CHO | 49 | 34.03 | |
| High in CHO and fat | 4 | 2.78 | |
| High in salt | 7 | 4.86 | |
| Pungent pepper-containing foods | 9 | 6.25 | |
| No | 279 | 66 | 60.8–70.4 |
| Ingredient content | |||
| Yes | 209 | 49.1 | 44.8–54.1 |
| Natural ingredients | 134 | 64.1 | |
| Artificial ingredients | 75 | 35.9 | |
| No | 214 | 50.6 | 45.1–55.2 |
| Price concern | |||
| Yes | 355 | 83.9 | 80–87.5 |
| No | 68 | 16.1 | 12.5-6-20 |
| Taste | |||
| Yes | 237 | 56 | 51.3–60.6 |
| No | 186 | 44 | 39–48.7 |
| Mood | |||
| Yes | 92 | 22 | 18–25.3 |
| Helps me cope with stress | 20 | 21.74 | |
| Helps me cope with life | 2 | 2.17 | |
| Helps me relax | 11 | 11.96 | |
| Keeping me alert | 35 | 38.04 | |
| Cheering me up | 2 | 2.17 | |
| Helps me feel good | 22 | 23.91 | |
| No | 331 | 78 | 74.7–82 |
| Preparation convenience | |||
| Yes | 352 | 83.2 | 79.7–86.5 |
| No | 71 | 16.8 | 13.5–20.3 |
| Religion taboo | |||
| Yes | 388 | 91.7 | 89.1–94.3 |
| No | 35 | 54.4 | 5.7–10.9 |
| Weight control | |||
| Yes | 194 | 45.9 | 41.6–50.4 |
| Low in carbohydrate | 71 | 36.6 | |
| Help me to control weight | 47 | 24.23 | |
| Helps me to admire people | 3 | 1.55 | |
| Helps me have a smart weight | 6 | 3.09 | |
| Low in fat | 67 | 34.54 | |
| No | 229 | 54.1 | 49.6–59.4 |
| Health concern (medical reason) | |||
| Yes | 193 | 45.6 | 41.1–50.4 |
| No | 230 | 54.4 | 49.6–58.9 |
| Worry about their health | |||
| Gastric disease | 112 | ||
| Heart case | 21 | ||
| Diabetes | 24 | ||
| Kidney | 6 | ||
| Allergy | 7 | ||
| Blood pressure | 11 | ||
| Cancer | 12 | ||
| Peer pressure | |||
| Yes | 344 | 81.3 | 77.3–85.6 |
| No | 79 | 18.7 | 14.4–22.7 |
| Influence of husband | |||
| Yes | 300 | 86.7 | 82.8–89.9 |
| No | 46 | 13.3 | 10.1–17.2 |
| Availability of FVs at working place | |||
| Yes | 95 | 33.8 | 28.3–39.5 |
| No | 186 | 66.2 | 60.5–71.7 |
| Availability of FVs at home | |||
| Yes | 266 | 62.9 | 57.4–67.1 |
| No | 157 | 37.1 | 32.9–42.6 |
| Availability of soft drink at home | |||
| Yes | 147 | 34.8 | 30.3–39.7 |
| No | 276 | 65.2 | 60.3–69.7 |
| Availability of dairy products at home | |||
| Yes | 317 | 74.9 | 70.7–79 |
| No | 106 | 25.1 | 21–29.3 |