Table 3 Mothers’ reasons for starting the reported supplementation
Type of supplement and main reasons* | Frequency |
|---|---|
Liquid (water, sugar water, tea) alone | 17 |
Hot Weather: “it was very hot”; “his lips were dry after feeding” | 6 |
Cultural beliefs: “breast milk is hot and it's a meal! Water must be added”; “breast milk is hot! Water must be added for proper digestion”; “Water is life! the child must take water”; “He was having hiccups” | 6 |
I thought I did not have enough milk | 5 |
Formula | 12 |
I thought I did not have enough milk | 5 |
My baby was crying all the time | 9 |
My baby was sucking all the time and it was difficult | 4 |
The baby's father wanted it added to human milk | 2 |
The grandmother of the baby wanted it added to human milk | 2 |
Other | 3 |
Porridge | |
I thought I did not have enough milk | 1 |
My baby was crying all the time | 5 |
My baby was sucking all the time and it was difficult | 2 |
The baby's father wanted it added to human milk | 0 |
The grandmother of the baby wanted it added to human milk | 2 |
Other | 3 |