Table 4 Breastfeeding attitude and intentions during the third trimester among the MINA Cohort participants (n = 230)
|  | Score (Mean ± SD) | Agree/strongly agree | Neutral / unsure | Disagree / strongly disagree | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | ||||
The Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scalea | ||||||
The nutritional benefits of breast milk last only until the baby is weaned from breast milkb | 3.29 ± 1.45 | 88 (38.4) | 21 (9.2) | 120 (52.4) | ||
Formula-feeding is more convenient than breastfeedingb | 3.92 ± 1.3 | 43 (18.8) | 11 (4.8) | 175 (76.4) | ||
Breastfeeding increases mother / infant bonding | 4.53 ± 0.86 | 212 (92.6) | 7 (3.1) | 10 (4.4) | ||
Breast milk is lacking in ironb | 3.66 ± 1.12 | 36 (15.7) | 60 (26.2) | 133 (58.1) | ||
Formula fed babies are more likely to be overfed than are breastfed babies | 3.43 ± 1.23 | 128 (55.9) | 43 (18.8) | 58 (25.3) | ||
Formula feeding is the better choice if the mother plans to work outside the homeb | 3.27 ± 1.33 | 80 (34.9) | 28 (12.2) | 121 (52.8) | ||
Mothers who formula feed miss one of the great joys of motherhood | 3.83 ± 1.21 | 167 (72.9) | 21 (9.2) | 41 (17.9) | ||
Women should not breastfeed in public places such as in restaurantsb | 3.3 ± 1.3 | 72 (31.4) | 34 (14.8) | 123 (53.7) | ||
Babies fed breast milk are healthier than babies who are fed formula | 4.15 ± 1.03 | 183 (80.3) | 24 (10.5) | 21 (9.2) | ||
Breastfed babies are more likely to be overfed than formula fed babiesb | 3.7 ± 1.17 | 41 (17.9) | 40 (17.5) | 148 (64.6) | ||
Fathers feel left out if a mother breastfeedsb | 3.79 ± 1.13 | 35 (15.3) | 36 (15.7) | 158 (69) | ||
Breast milk is the ideal food for babies | 4.69 ± 0.59 | 219 (95.6) | 9 (3.9) | 1 (0.4) | ||
Breast milk is more easily digested than formula | 4.34 ± 0.91 | 197 (86) | 23 (10) | 9 (3.9) | ||
Formula is as healthy for an infant as breast milkb | 4.04 ± 1.07 | 30 (13.1) | 21 (9.2) | 178 (77.7) | ||
Breastfeeding is more convenient than formula feeding | 3.58 ± 1.37 | 142 (62) | 22 (9.6) | 65 (28.4) | ||
Breast milk is less expensive than formula | 4.6 ± 0.68 | 214 (93.4) | 11 (4.8) | 4 (1.7) | ||
A mother who occasionally drinks alcohol should not breastfeed her babyb, c | 2.09 ± 1.29 | 98 (73.1) | 12 (9) | 24 (17.9) | ||
Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale total score | 65.02 ± 7.74 |  |  |  | ||
The Infant Feeding Intentions Scale d | Â | Â | Â | Â | ||
I am planning to only formula feed my babyb | 3.63 ± 0.98 | 13 (5.7) | 14 (6.1) | 201 (88.2) | ||
I am planning to at least give breastfeeding a try | 3.73 ± 0.89 | 215 (93.9) | 2 (0.9) | 12 (5.2) | ||
When my baby is 1 month old, I will be breastfeeding without using any formula or other milk | 3.38 ± 1.23 | 183 (79.9) | 19 (8.3) | 27 (11.8) | ||
When my baby is 3 months old, I will be breastfeeding without using any formula or other milk | 2.97 ± 1.43 | 150 (65.5) | 35 (15.3) | 44 (19.2) | ||
When my baby is 6 months old, I will be breastfeeding without using any formula or other milk | 2.68 ± 1.49 | 125 (54.6) | 53 (23.1) | 51 (22.3) | ||
Infant Feeding Intentions Scale total score | 12.70 ± 4.0 |  |  |  | ||