The effect of health visitors on breastfeeding in Glasgow

Table 5 Attitudes of 146 health visitors from the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale

	SD-strongly disagree, D-disagree, N-neutral, A-agree, SA-strongly agree	SD %	D %	N %	A %	SA %
1.	The benefits of breast milk last only as long as the baby is breast fed*	76	11	6	3	3
2.	Formula feeding is more convenient than breastfeeding*	56	24	12	3	5
3.	Breastfeeding increases mother infant bonding	3	6	16	20	55
4.	Breast milk is lacking in iron*	40	26	18	6	9
5.	Formula fed babies are more likely to be overfed than breastfed babies	3	11	20	37	30
6.	Formula feeding is the better choice if the mother plans to go back to work*	39	39	19	3	1
7.	Mothers who formula feed miss one of the great joys of motherhood	12	12	28	24	24
8.	Women should not breastfeed in public places such as restaurants*	82	10	3	2	3
9.	Breastfed babies are healthier than formula fed babies	3	5	16	32	45
10.	Breastfed babies are more likely to be overfed than formula fed babies*	60	21	14	2	3
11.	Fathers feel left out if a mother breast feeds*	16	23	42	18	1
12.	Breast milk is the ideal food for babies	7	0	0	2	91
13.	Breast milk is more easily digested than formula	6	2	0	8	84
14.	Formula is as healthy for an infant as breast milk*	44	29	19	6	2
15.	Breastfeeding is more convenient than formula	3	2	12	29	54
16.	Breast milk is cheaper than formula	5	3	5	10	77
17.	A mother who occasionally drinks alcohol should not breastfeed her baby*	47	31	15	3	4

*Variables reverse scored to calculate total infant feeding attitude so that a strongly breastfeeding attitude has a score of 5 for each question giving a maximum score of 85 and minimum of 17
Mean score 71.2 SD 8.4 Cronbach's a = 0.79, median 72, range 28–85, interquartile range 66–77

ISSN: 1746-4358