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Table 1 Caller characteristics

From: Callers’ attitudes and experiences of UK breastfeeding helpline support

Caller characteristics

Frequency (%)

Age (years)

 

Under 20

3 (0.3)

20–24

47 (5.2)

25–29

200 (22.0)

30–34

352 (38.8)

35–39

236 (26.0)

40+

55 (6.1)

Missing

15 (1.7)

Marital status

 

Married/living together

858 (94.5)

In relationship

17 (1.9)

Single/separated/divorced

19 (2.1)

Not recorded

14 (1.5)

Ethnicity

 

White

778 (85.7)

Mixed

22 (2.4)

Asian/Asian British

63 (6.9)

Black/Black British

21 (2.3)

Chinese/Other

9 (1.0)

Not recorded

15 (1.7)

Parity

 

First-time mothers

607 (66.9)

At least one previous child

288 (31.7)

Not recorded

13 (1.4)

Age of child at time of call

 

Pregnant

5 (0.6)

Under 1 month

446 (49.1)

Between 1–5 months

340 (37.4)

Between 6–12 months

86 (9.5)

Over 12 months

16 (1.8)

Not recorded

15 (1.6)

Current infant feeding practices

 

Exclusive/fully breastfeeding1

628 (69.2)

Mixed feeding (breast and artificial milk)

189 (20.8)

Formula feeding

68 (7.5)

Not applicable2

10 (1.1)

Missing

13 (1.4)

Did mother breastfeed previous child/children (n = 301)

 

Breastfed previous child/children

241 (80.1)

Did not breastfeed previous child/children

44 (14.6)

Missing

16 (5.3)

  1. 1This includes 73 cases where the mother was breastfeeding and had introduced complementary foods.
  2. 2Relates to mothers whose children were over 12 months of age and who had stopped breastfeeding and mothers who were pregnant.