Table 3 Knowledge and attitudes of mothers about breastfeeding
Correct | Mothers giving correct answer N = 247 (%) | |
|---|---|---|
For how long should you breastfeed? | 2 years | 188 (76.1) |
How old should the baby be when you start giving other food and fluids? | 6 months | 216 (87.4) |
Initial breast production of yellow water (colostrum) is nutritionally useless for the baby and should be discarded | False | 155 (62.8) |
Breastfeed babies have less diarrhoea | True | 233 (94.3) |
Infant formula contains all the ingredients found in human breastmilk | False | 222 (89.9) |
All babies should be given water between feeds during summer | False | 43 (17.4) |
A mother who feels that the baby is not getting enough breastmilk should top up feeds with formula milk | False | 142 (57.5) |
Babies who cry a lot should be given a pacifier / dummy | False | 219 (88.7) |
Breastfeeding is easier than feeding with infant formula | True | 231 (93.5) |
When you go back to work it is better to stop breastfeeding completely rather than mixed feed | False | 56 (22.7) |
It is better for the health of the child to give a small amount of breastmilk rather than no breastmilk at all | True | 224 (90.7) |