Background
Methods
The sample
Data collection
The questionnaire
Data analyses
Results
Sample characteristics
Characteristic | No. †
| (%) |
---|---|---|
Current age
| ||
20-29 | 107 | (34.0) |
30-39 | 154 | (48.9) |
> 40 | 54 | (17.1) |
Marital status
| ||
Married | 275 | (85.4) |
Single/Divorced/Widow | 47 | (14.6) |
Education level
| ||
Primary/Secondary | 156 | (48.4) |
Tertiary | 166 | (51.6) |
Current occupation
| ||
Self-employed/Professional work | 79 | (24.9) |
Non-professional work | 107 | (33.8) |
Housewife | 131 | (41.3) |
Husband/partner occupation
| ||
Self-employed/Professional work | 109 | (34.8) |
Non-professional work | 195 | (62.3) |
Unemployed | 9 | (2.9) |
Family income last year (euro, before tax)
| ||
< 15,000 | 49 | (15.7) |
15,000-30,000 | 163 | (52.1) |
30,000-50,000 | 59 | (18.8) |
> 50,000 | 42 | (13.4) |
Mother's birth place
§
| ||
Mainland China (North) | 164 | (51.3) |
Mainland China (South) | 109 | (34.1) |
Hong Kong | 47 | (14.7) |
Duration in Ireland (years)
| ||
< = 5 | 99 | (30.7) |
> 5-10 | 179 | (55.6) |
> 10 | 44 | (13.7) |
Has mother herself been breastfed when she was a baby?
| ||
Yes | 276 | (85.7) |
No | 31 | (9.6) |
Don't know | 15 | (4.7) |
Has she breastfed at least one child?
| ||
Yes | 263 | (81.7) |
No | 59 | (18.3) |
Where did she give birth to her child(ren)?
| ||
China only | 48 | (15.0) |
Ireland only | 247 | (77.2) |
Both China and Ireland | 25 | (7.8) |
Knowledge of breastfeeding
Attitudes towards breastfeeding
Disagree†
| Agree†
| Don't know | |
---|---|---|---|
(%) | (%) | (%) | |
I do not like breastfeeding. | 78.7 | 17.1 | 4.1 |
Breast milk is less expensive than infant formula. | 23.7 | 68.0 | 8.2 |
Breastfeeding can allow mother's weight to return to normal earlier than formula feeding. | 12.3 | 65.2 | 22.5 |
Breastfeeding will make mothers' breasts sag. | 30.0 | 53.6 | 16.4 |
Formula feeding is more convenient than breastfeeding. | 42.0 | 53.6 | 4.4 |
Formula feeding is a better choice if the mother works or studies outside home. | 9.1 | 88.0 | 2.8 |
Mothers who formula-feed miss one of the great joys of motherhood. | 22.5 | 66.1 | 11.4 |
I would feel embarrassed if someone saw me breastfeeding. | 45.7 | 51.7 | 2.5 |
I will not breastfeed in public. | 31.6 | 65.2 | 3.2 |
Formula feeding is a symbol of wealth. | 90.0 | 3.1 | 6.9 |
Breastfeeding is old fashioned. | 96.6 | 0.9 | 2.5 |
I do not think I know enough about breastfeeding. | 39.3 | 54.7 | 6.0 |
If husband/partner objects to breastfeeding, I will give up. | 77.4 | 16.3 | 6.3 |
Infant formula advertisements have influenced my feeding decision. | 78.3 | 17.0 | 4.7 |
Some traditional Chinese food can help to improve milk production. | 5.3 | 85.2 | 9.4 |
Five classifications of foods (cold, sharp, hot, poisonous, windy) should be avoided during lactation because these foods have a negative effect on the nursing baby. | 7.2 | 86.5 | 6.3 |
Public facilities (e.g. restaurants, shopping centre, public toilets) in Ireland are more supportive for breastfeeding practices than those in China. | 8.1 | 82.2 | 9.7 |
There is more promotion and education on breastfeeding in Ireland than in China. | 26.5 | 48.6 | 24.9 |
Living in Ireland is a barrier for Chinese women to breastfeed. | 51.4 | 35.5 | 13.1 |
Socio-demographic influences on breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes
K1.Infant formula should be fed to all newborn infants until their mothers' milk comes in. | K3.Mother should not breastfeed if she catches a cold. | Maternal awareness of the advantages of breastfeeding for the babies. | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Disagree†
| Agree†
| Don't know | P | Disagree†
| Agree†
| Don't know | P | Mean score§
| |
(%) | (%) | (%) | (%) | (%) | (%) | ||||
Total
| 40.7 | 49.5 | 9.8 | 26.0 | 59.2 | 14.7 | 4.03 ± 0.73 | ||
Current age
| |||||||||
20-29 | 34.9 | 54.7 | 10.4 | 0.013 | 20.8 | 70.8 | 8.5 | 0.005 | 3.90b
|
30-39 | 45.4 | 49.3 | 5.3 | 32.0 | 53.6 | 14.4 | 4.14a
| ||
> 40 | 38.9 | 40.7 | 20.4 | 20.4 | 53.7 | 25.9 | 4.03ab
| ||
Education level
| |||||||||
Primary/Secondary level | 36.8 | 50.7 | 12.5 | 0.187 | 19.6 | 64.1 | 16.3 | 0.043 | 3.93b
|
Third level | 44.2 | 48.5 | 7.3 | 31.9 | 54.8 | 13.3 | 4.14a
| ||
Current occupation
| |||||||||
Self-employed/Professional work | 49.4 | 45.5 | 5.2 | 0.228 | 36.7 | 51.9 | 11.4 | 0.015 | 4.25a
|
Non-professional work | 38.7 | 51.9 | 9.4 | 21.7 | 67.9 | 10.4 | 3.98b
| ||
Housewife | 36.4 | 50.4 | 13.2 | 22.5 | 56.6 | 20.9 | 3.98b
| ||
Husband/partner occupation
| |||||||||
Self-employed/Professional work | 51.9 | 39.6 | 8.5 | 0.013 | 36.4 | 50.5 | 13.1 | 0.011 | 4.20a
|
Non-professional work/Unemployed | 34.7 | 55.4 | 9.9 | 20.7 | 64.0 | 15.3 | 3.97b
| ||
Mother's birth place
| |||||||||
Mainland China (north) | 40.1 | 53.7 | 6.2 | 0.005 | 30.1 | 57.7 | 12.3 | 0.013 | 4.08ns
|
Mainland China (south) | 40.2 | 50.5 | 9.3 | 22.2 | 65.7 | 12.0 | 4.04 | ||
Hong Kong | 43.5 | 32.6 | 23.9 | 19.6 | 50.0 | 30.4 | 3.90 | ||
Duration in Ireland (years)
| |||||||||
< = 5 | 51.5 | 41.4 | 7.1 | 0.001 | 33.3 | 58.6 | 8.1 | 0.001 | 4.11ns
|
> 5-10 | 34.9 | 57.1 | 8.0 | 23.7 | 62.7 | 13.6 | 4.02 | ||
> 10 | 39.5 | 37.2 | 23.3 | 18.6 | 46.5 | 34.9 | 3.93 | ||
Has mother herself been breastfed when she was a baby?
| |||||||||
Yes | 41.2 | 51.1 | 7.7 | 0.009 | 27.0 | 58.4 | 14.6 | 0.609 | 4.06ns
|
No/Don't know | 37.8 | 40.0 | 22.2 | 20.0 | 64.4 | 15.6 | 3.91 |
I do not like breastfeeding. | Five classifications of foods should be avoided during lactation because these foods have a negative effect on the nursing baby. | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Disagree†
| Agree†
| Don't know | P | Disagree†
| Agree†
| Don't know | P | |
(%) | (%) | (%) | (%) | (%) | (%) | |||
Current age
| ||||||||
20-29 | 74.5 | 19.8 | 5.7 | 0.006 | 4.7 | 87.7 | 7.5 | 0.007 |
30-39 | 86.8 | 9.9 | 3.3 | 7.8 | 90.2 | 2.0 | ||
> 40 | 65.4 | 30.8 | 3.8 | 9.4 | 75.5 | 15.1 | ||
Education level
| ||||||||
Primary/Secondary level | 72.2 | 22.5 | 5.3 | 0.024 | 5.2 | 88.2 | 6.5 | 0.413 |
Third level | 84.8 | 12.2 | 3.0 | 9.1 | 84.8 | 6.1 | ||
Mother's birth place
| ||||||||
Mainland China (north) | 84.0 | 14.2 | 1.9 | 0.005 | 6.7 | 90.2 | 3.1 | 0.001 |
Mainland China (south) | 77.4 | 15.1 | 7.5 | 4.7 | 88.8 | 6.5 | ||
Hong Kong | 62.2 | 33.3 | 4.4 | 15.2 | 67.4 | 17.4 | ||
Duration in Ireland (years)
| ||||||||
< = 5 | 83.8 | 11.1 | 5.1 | 0.037 | 5.1 | 89.9 | 5.1 | 0.004 |
> 5-10 | 79.8 | 16.8 | 3.5 | 7.4 | 88.6 | 4.0 | ||
> 10 | 62.8 | 32.6 | 4.7 | 11.6 | 69.8 | 18.6 |
The association between of breastfeeding attitudes/knowledge and practices
Items | P | Odds Ratio (95% Confidence Interval) |
---|---|---|
Awareness (score) of the advantage of breastfeeding. | < 0.001 | 2.98 (1.87-4.73) |
Infant formula should be fed to all newborn infants until their mothers' milk comes in.(D)
| 0.005 | 2.96 (1.40-6.27) |
It is the frequency of breastfeeding as well as the milk removed from the breast that stimulates further milk production. (A)
| < 0.001 | 3.49 (1.76-6.92) |
Mother should not breastfeed if she catches a cold. (D)
| 0.024 | 3.14 (1.16-8.49) |
I do not like breastfeeding. (D)
| < 0.001 | 4.98 (2.50-9.90) |
Breastfeeding will make mothers' breasts sag.(D)
| 0.046 | 2.28 (1.01-5.12) |
Mothers who formula-feed miss one of the great joys of motherhood. (A)
| 0.001 | 3.17 (1.64-6.13) |
If husband/partner objects to breastfeeding, I will give up. (D)
| 0.015 | 2.31 (1.17-4.52) |
Some traditional Chinese food can help to improve milk production. (A)
| 0.001 | 3.82 (1.70-8.60) |