Predictors of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months: four consecutive surveys in a tertiary hospital in Lithuania

Table 5 Factors (nominal and ordinal variables) at 2–4 days after childbirth influencing exclusive infant formula feeding on days 2–4 postpartum using the Chi-square test and specified with Fisher’s Exact tests^a

Factors	Exclusive infant formula feeding
Factors	No	Yes	χ²	p
Watching electronic program on breastfeeding at the hospital	183 (42.9%)	3 (15.0%)	6.1	0.014
Sense that the knowledge on breastfeeding is sufficient			12.14	0.005
No	126 (29.5%)	13 (65.0%)
Partially	36 (8.4%)	2 (10.0%)
Yes	265 (62.1%)	5 (25.0%)
Family support in relation to breastfeeding	384 (89.9%)	13 (65.0%)	11.95	0.001
Doctor’s support in relation to breastfeeding	333 (78.0%)	10 (50.0%)	6	0.014
Midwife’s support in relation to breastfeeding	325 (76.1%)	10 (50.0%)	6.94	0.008
Medical staff’s support in relation to breastfeeding
Pacifier use	319 (74.7%)	10 (50.0%)	6	0.014
Teat use	138 (32.3%)	11 (55.0%)	4.42	0.035
Delivery	120 (28.1%)	18 (90.0%)	34.3	< 0.001
Premature			12.52	0.005
Term	23 (5.4%)	5 (25.0%)
Intramuscular pethidine for analgesia	404 (94.6%)	15 (75.0%)
Type of delivery	14 (3.3%)	4 (20.0%)	13.82	0.006
Cesarean section
Vaginal birth			12.84	< 0.01
Healthy newborn^b	89 (20.8%)	11 (55.0%)
	338 (79.2%)	9 (45.0%)
	359 (84.1%)	10 (50.0%)	15.40%	0.001

Note: p ≤ .05 represents statistical significance
Abbreviations: χ² chi-square test; p level/test of significance
^a Only statistically significant variables are included
^b Healthy newborn – a neonate without congenital anomalies or other pathologies requiring admission to special care during the hospital stay

ISSN: 1746-4358