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Table 4 Breastfeeding attitudes of participants visiting four primary healthcare clinics in Abu Dhabi (n = 344)

From: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of breastfeeding among women visiting primary healthcare clinics on the island of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Variable

Number

(%)

Response of participants to breastfeeding attitude questions (Total of six scored questions)

 Breastfeeding can increase the mother’s weight:

  Agree

69

(20.6)

  Neutral

86

(25.7)

  Disagreea

180

(53.7)

 One of the causes of hair loss is breastfeeding:

  Agree

114

(34)

  Neutral

74

(22.1)

  Disagreea

147

(43.9)

 Pumping breast milk makes it no longer beneficial for the child:

  Agree

39

(11.7)

  Neutral

89

(26.7)

  Disagreea

205

(61.6)

 Mothers should stop breastfeeding if they take any type of medication:

  Agree

138

(41.8)

  Neutral

105

(31.8)

  Disagreea

87

(26.4)

 Intention to breastfeed future children:

  Agreea

307

(92.8)

  Neutral

15

(4.5)

  Disagree

9

(2.7)

 Plan to attend breastfeeding classes in future pregnancy:

  Agreea

219

(66.6)

  Neutral

82

(24.9)

  Disagree

28

(8.5)

Overall participants’ attitude level:

 Good

72

(20.9)

 Fair

182

(52.9)

 Poor

90

(26.2)

Reasons behind adoption of breastfeeding:

 Religious background

123

(37)

 Healthcare providers

92

(27.7)

 Child health

298

(89.8)

 Media

26

(7.8)

 Cleanliness and easy preparation

105

(31.6)

 Personal determination or experience

11

(3.3)

 Encouragement from mother/mother-in-law

79

(23.8)

 Encouragement from husband

81

(24.4)

 Other

8

(2.4)

 I don’t know

11

(3.3)

  1. aResponse indicates positive attitude