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Table 6 Reasons indicated by mothers who stopped breastfeeding before their children turned two (n = 89)

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

Reasons cited as important

Number

(%)

Lactation factors

 Breast problem (pain, cracked nipple, etc.)

8

(9)

Psychosocial factors

 Breastfeeding was tiring

9

(10.1)

 Felt it was time to stop

5

(5.6)

 Had too many household duties or other commitments

4

(4.5)

 Difficulty finding nursing areas outside the home

4

(4.5)

 Breastfeeding was too inconvenient

3

(3.4)

 Lack of husband’s support

2

(2.2)

 Family recommendation

1

(1.1)

 Wanted or needed someone else to feed my baby

0

(0)

Nutritional factors

 Decreased milk production

68

(76.4)

 Baby hungry/unsatisfied after feeding

30

(33.3)

 Baby not gaining sufficient weight

10

(11.2)

 Physician’s recommendation

5

(5.6)

Lifestyle factors

 Decreased food intake by mother

6

(6.7)

 The mother’s hair started falling out

2

(2.2)

 Breastfeeding was affecting the mother’s shape/body image

1

(1.1)

Medical factors

 Health problems related to the mother (maternal illness/medication use, etc.)

8

(9)

 Became pregnant or wanted to become pregnant again

5

(5.6)

 Child health problem

0

(0)

Milk-pumping factors

 Pumping milk difficult/time consuming, etc.

4

(4.5)

Infant’s self-weaning factors

 Refused to feed

19

(21.3)

 Began to bite

5

(5.6)

Work related factors

 Had to return to work

14

(15.7)

 Maternity leave not long enough to develop breastfeeding schedule/habit

24

(14.5)

 Insufficient time off during work days for breastfeeding

20

(12)

 Home too far from work for breastfeeding

9

(5.4)

 Lack of work flexibility for breastfeeding time

9

(5.4)

 Lack of nursery at or close to work

8

(4.8)

 Could not or did not want to pump or breastfeed at work

8

(4.8)

 Problems related to workplace

4

(2.4)

 Other reasons

4

(2.4)

 Other factors

3

(3.4)