Table 4 Perceived reasons for and against the belief and use of donor milk amongst respondents

Reasons for Donor Milk^a

n (%)

 • Mothers breast milk is not flowing

127 (31.4)

 • Baby is crying, and mother is not around

75 (18.6)

 • Mother is sick and cannot breast feed

139 (34.4)

 • Mothers breast milk is not safe for baby

12 (3.0)

 • Baby is not gaining weight because of inadequate milk

4 (1.0)

 • Donor milk is convenient and safe

1 (0.2)

 • To prevent breast from sagging

1 (0.2)

 • Other unspecified reasons

45 (11)

 Total

404

Reasons against Donor Milk^a

N (%)

 • Donor milk is not culturally accepted

191 (11.8)

 • Donor milk is not religiously accepted

109 (6.7)

 • There is risk of infection transmission

426 (26.3)

 • Not sure its hygienically prepared

217 (13.4)

 • Concerns about HIV, Hepatitis B and C

241 (14.9)

 • Social and societal stigma

92 (5.7)

 • Not a common practice and generally unacceptable

160 (9.9)

 • Fear of transmission of bad genetic traits

185 (11.3)

 Total

1621