Food Choice Behaviors of Lactating Women: Association with Body Mass Index and Fruits and Vegetables Intake in Central Amhara Region, Ethiopia—An Observational Study

Table 3

Food choice behaviors among lactating women in central Amhara from March to June 2016 (n = 423).

	n	%	95% CI
Variables
Healthy value of a diet
Yes	280	66.2	61.5–71.7
Vitamin/mineral	128	45.71
Keeping me healthy	77	27.5
Reduce adverse risk	15	5.36
High in protein	43	15.36
Good for skin, teeth, hair, and nail	2	0.71
Recommended by physicians	15	5.36
No	143	33.8	28.3–38.5
Avoiding nutrient content
Yes	144	34	29.5–39.2
High in fat	75	52.08
High in CHO	49	34.03
High in CHO and fat	4	2.78
High in salt	7	4.86
Pungent pepper-containing foods	9	6.25
No	279	66	60.8–70.4
Ingredient content
Yes	209	49.1	44.8–54.1
Natural ingredients	134	64.1
Artificial ingredients	75	35.9
No	214	50.6	45.1–55.2
Price concern
Yes	355	83.9	80–87.5
No	68	16.1	12.5-6-20
Taste
Yes	237	56	51.3–60.6
No	186	44	39–48.7
Mood
Yes	92	22	18–25.3
Helps me cope with stress	20	21.74
Helps me cope with life	2	2.17
Helps me relax	11	11.96
Keeping me alert	35	38.04
Cheering me up	2	2.17
Helps me feel good	22	23.91
No	331	78	74.7–82
Preparation convenience
Yes	352	83.2	79.7–86.5
No	71	16.8	13.5–20.3
Religion taboo
Yes	388	91.7	89.1–94.3
No	35	54.4	5.7–10.9

Weight control
Yes	194	45.9	41.6–50.4
Low in carbohydrate	71	36.6
Help me to control weight	47	24.23
Helps me to admire people	3	1.55
Helps me have a smart weight	6	3.09
Low in fat	67	34.54
No	229	54.1	49.6–59.4
Health concern (medical reason)
Yes	193	45.6	41.1–50.4
No	230	54.4	49.6–58.9
Worry about their health
Gastric disease	112
Heart case	21
Diabetes	24
Kidney	6
Allergy	7
Blood pressure	11
Cancer	12
Peer pressure
Yes	344	81.3	77.3–85.6
No	79	18.7	14.4–22.7
Influence of husband
Yes	300	86.7	82.8–89.9
No	46	13.3	10.1–17.2
Availability of FVs at working place
Yes	95	33.8	28.3–39.5
No	186	66.2	60.5–71.7
Availability of FVs at home
Yes	266	62.9	57.4–67.1
No	157	37.1	32.9–42.6
Availability of soft drink at home
Yes	147	34.8	30.3–39.7
No	276	65.2	60.3–69.7
Availability of dairy products at home
Yes	317	74.9	70.7–79
No	106	25.1	21–29.3