Attitudes and Barriers to Breastfeeding among Mothers in Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Table 4

Itemized scoring of the mothers’ attitudes to breastfeeding.

Attitude toward breastfeeding		Strongly disagree		Disagree		Neutral		Agree		Strongly agree		Mean ± SD
		N	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%
Q 1	Benefits of breast milk last only until weaning	64	16.0	90	22.5	63	15.8	117	29.2	66	16.5	2.9 ± 1.4
Q 2	Formula milk is more convenient than breast milk	62	15.5	106	26.5	97	24.2	102	25.5	33	8.2	3.1 ± 1.2
Q 3	Breastfeeding strengthens mother-infant bonding	10	2.5	9	2.2	22	5.5	116	29.0	243	60.8	4.4 ± 0.9
Q 4	Breast milk lacks iron	81	20.2	123	30.8	124	31.0	56	14.0	16	4.0	2.5 ± 1.0
Q 5	Formula-fed infants are more liable to overfeeding	16	4.0	64	16.0	133	33.2	143	35.8	44	11.0	3.3 ± 1.0
Q 6	Formula milk is the better choice to plan to go out to work	18	4.5	62	15.5	68	17.0	183	45.8	69	17.2	2.4 ± 1.1
Q 7	Mothers who formula feed miss one of the great joys of motherhood	13	3.2	32	8.0	62	15.5	159	39.7	134	33.5	4.0 ± 2.1
Q 8	Women should not breastfeed in places	54	13.5	92	23.0	83	20.8	93	23.2	78	19.5	2.9 ± 1.3
Q 9	Breastfed babies are healthier	54	13.5	92	23.0	83	20.8	93	23.2	78	19.5	4.0 ± 1.0
Q 10	Breastfed babies are more liable to overfeeding	20	5.0	65	16.2	155	38.8	108	27.0	52	13.0	3.0 ± 1.0
Q 11	Father feel left out if a mother breastfeeds	72	18.0	123	30.8	126	31.5	66	16.5	13	3.2	3.4 ± 1.0
Q 12	Breast milk is the ideal food for the baby	8	2.0	7	1.8	18	4.5	125	31.2	242	60.5	4.5 ± 0.8
Q 13	Breast milk is more easily digested	13	3.2	8	2.0	39	9.8	107	26.8	233	58.2	4.3 ± 0.9
Q 14	Formula is as healthy for infant as breast milk	134	33.5	160	40.0	72	18.0	25	6.2	9	2.2	4.0 ± 1.7
Q 15	Breastfeeding is more convenient than formulas	18	4.5	79	19.8	92	23.0	103	25.8	108	27.0	3.5 ± 1.2
Q 16	Breast milk is less expensive than formula	10	2.5	10	2.5	14	3.5	140	35.0	226	56.5	4.4 ± 0.9
Q 17	Occasionally smoking mothers should not breastfeed	33	8.2	38	9.5	99	24.8	115	28.8	115	28.8	2.4 ± 1.2

Participants’ mean score = 59.6 ± 7.3; one sample t-test: t (df 399) = −1.37; .