Table 1 Summary of definitions and measures for the study variables

Anticipated affective attitude

How an individual feels about the intervention before taking part.

I believe donated breast milk from a milk bank provides the best alternative source of food for babies in the absence of the biological mother’s milk.

Ethicality

The extent to which the intervention has a good fit with an individual’s value system.

Feeding babies donated breast milk is ethically acceptable (It is not against my values and beliefs).

Anticipated effectiveness

The extent to which the intervention is perceived to be likely to achieve its purpose.

I believe feeding babies donated breast milk from a milk bank prevents childhood illness and has health benefits comparable to the biological mother’s milk.

Anticipated burden

The perceived amount of effort required to participate in the intervention

Using donated breast milk from a milk bank is a complex process and requires a lot of time or expense.

Anticipated opportunity cost

The extent to which benefits, profits, or values must be given up to engage in the intervention

In my opinion, I would be willing to give up the convenience of the use of infant formula or cow milk for donated breast milk.

Self-Efficacy

Participant’s confidence that they can perform the behaviour required to participate in the intervention

If I didn’t have enough breast milk or was unable to breastfeed, I would feed my baby on donated breast milk.

Independent variables; predisposing, enabling and need factors.

Sociodemographic characteristics

Age

15–24; 25–44; ≥45 years.

Religion

Christianity; Islam

Marital status

Single; married/cohabiting; divorced/separated; widowed

Education level

None; Primary; Secondary; Vocational/technical; University

Occupation

Housewife; self-employed; salaried/waged

Mode of delivery of the current child

Cesarean section; normal delivery

Parity

1–3; ≥4 children

Income

Self-reported based on the average monthly family income

Number of antenatal visits (ANC)

1–3; ≥4 times

Ever heard about donated breast milk

Yes; no

Ever heard about donated breast milk banking

Yes; no

Ever heard about wet nursing

Yes; no

Ever breastfed another person’s child

Yes; no

Ever been counselled on breastfeeding during ANC visits

Yes; no

Require consent from a spouse

Yes; no

Preferred feed in presence of a serious medical condition

Donated breast milk; other feeds

Ever visited/ admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)

Ever; never

Donor type

Relative; friend; human milk bank; none