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Table 1 Characteristics of the study sample according to infants' age at weaning

From: Breastfeeding and weaning practices among Hong Kong mothers: a prospective study

  

Infants' age in months when breastfeeding was completely stopped

Characteristic

Total

(N= 1317)

%

<1

(n= 483)

%

1 to <3

(n= 340)

%

3 to <6

(n= 140)

%

6 to <9

(n= 105)

%

9 to <12

(n= 84)

%

≥12

(n= 165)

%

Age,‡ y

   18-24

6.6

9.9

5.6

2.9

4.8

3.6

4.9

   25-29

22.9

24.8

23.5

19.3

21.0

22.6

20.6

   30-34

46.2

45.6

44.7

50.7

50.5

46.4

44.9

   ≥35

24.2

19.7

26.2

27.1

23.8

27.4

29.7

Parity†

   Primiparous

59.8

70.6

62.1

52.9

54.3

45.2

40.6

   Multiparous

40.2

29.4

37.9

47.1

45.7

54.7

59.4

Maternal education†

   Primary

3.6

2.7

1.8

1.4

4.8

7.1

9.1

   Compulsory secondary

20.3

20.9

19.7

20.0

21.9

23.8

17.0

   Upper secondary

37.4

48.2

33.8

26.4

30.5

28.6

31.5

   University degree

35.5

25.5

41.7

49.3

41.0

35.7

36.4

   Post-graduate degree

3.3

2.7

2.9

2.9

1.9

4.8

6.1

Monthly Family income (HKD)†ab

   < $10,000

8.7

6.8

6.4

11.3

6.9

12.2

16.1

   $10,000-14,999

13.7

12.9

12.5

12.8

18.8

18.3

13.6

   $15,000-$19,999

10.9

12.9

8.8

7.5

11.9

18.3

8.0

   $20,000-$24,999

11.6

15.0

12.2

6.0

8.9

8.5

8.6

   $25,000-$29,999

10.9

12.5

10.9

7.5

12.9

3.7

11.7

   => $30,000

44.2

40.1

49.2

54.9

40.6

39.0

42.0

Length of residence in Hong Kong†

   < 5 years

11.2

4.8

10.0

14.3

19.1

23.8

18.2

   ≥ 5 years

88.8

95.2

90.0

85.7

81.0

76.2

81.8

Mother planning to exclusively breastfeed†

   No

35.9

48.0

38.2

25.7

27.6

26.2

14.6

   Yes

64.1

52.0

61.8

74.3

72.4

73.8

85.5

Was mother breastfed†

   No

54.1

62.5

54.7

47.1

44.8

46.4

44.2

   Yes

45.9

37.5

45.3

52.9

55.2

53.6

55.8

Previous breastfeeding experience†

   No

66.4

79.1

67.9

58.6

59.1

50.0

46.1

   Yes

33.6

20.1

32.1

41.4

41.0

50.0

53.9

Husband feeding preference†

   Breastfeeding

61.7

50.7

60.3

70.7

75.2

71.4

75.8

   No preference

19.0

22.2

17.1

19.3

16.2

15.5

17.0

   Infant formula or mixed

19.3

27.1

22.7

10.0

8.6

13.1

7.3

Emergency caesarean section‡

   No

88.7

86.3

87.7

89.3

90.5

97.6

91.5

   Yes

11.3

13.7

12.4

10.7

9.5

2.4

8.5

Return to work post-partum†

   No

26.3

18.4

21.8

25.0

36.2

47.6

42.4

   Yes

73.7

81.6

78.2

75.0

63.8

52.4

57.6

  1. ‡ p < .05
  2. † p < .001
  3. a 1 USD = 7.78 HKD
  4. c 36 participants had missing family income data