Table 1 Selected characteristics of the participants in the study sample (n = 344)
Variable | Number | (%) |
|---|---|---|
Age (in years) | ||
 18–24 | 39 | (11.4) |
 25–29 | 128 | (37.5) |
 30–34 | 107 | (31.4) |
 35–39 | 57 | (16.7) |
 40–44 | 10 | (3) |
  ≥ 45 | 0 | (0) |
Marital status | ||
 Married | 338 | (99.1) |
 Divorced | 2 | (0.6) |
 Widowed | 1 | (0.3) |
Educational background | ||
 Primary school or lower | 3 | (0.9) |
 Secondary school | 65 | (19.1) |
 University or higher | 272 | (80) |
Employed | ||
 No | 237 | (69.3) |
 Yes | 105 | (30.7) |
 Self-employed | 0 | (0) |
Employment sector | ||
 Private | 68 | (66) |
 Public | 35 | (34) |
Entitled to breastfeeding hours by employer | ||
 Yes | 83 | (82.2) |
 No | 18 | (17.8) |
Living with husband and children only | ||
 Yes | 293 | (86.4) |
 No (Living with relatives) | 43 | (12.7) |
 No (Separated/Divorced/Widowed) | 3 | (0.9) |
Number of housemaids or nannies | ||
 0 | 240 | (73.2) |
 1 | 70 | (21.3) |
  > 1 | 18 | (5.5) |
Monthly family income (in AED) | ||
  < 15,000 | 137 | (42) |
 15,000–30,000 | 153 | (46.9) |
  > 30,000 | 36 | (11.1) |
Number of children | ||
 1 | 122 | (35.9) |
 2–4 | 206 | (60.6) |
  ≥ 5 | 12 | (3.5) |
Gender of last child | ||
 Male | 169 | (51.4) |
 Female | 160 | (48.6) |
Last child’s gestational age at delivery | ||
  < 37 weeks | 69 | (20.5) |
  ≥ 37 weeks | 267 | (79.5) |
Mode of delivery of last child | ||
 Vaginal delivery | 196 | (57.6) |
 Caesarian section | 144 | (42.4) |
Healthcare provider explained the importance of breastfeeding during antenatal visits for last pregnancy | ||
 Yes | 275 | (81.6) |
 No | 62 | (18.4) |
Healthcare provider explained the importance of breastfeeding after delivery of last child | ||
 Yes | 286 | (84.4) |
 No | 53 | (15.6) |
Healthcare provider explained the appropriate practices of breastfeeding for last child | ||
 Yes | 268 | (79.8) |
 No | 68 | (20.2) |