Patterns and determinants of breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices of Emirati Mothers in the United Arab Emirates

Table 1 Percentage distribution of the variables in the study population (n=593)

Variables	No	%
Maternal Age ( years ) **
<25	222	37.4
26 – 30	211	35.6
31 – 35	102	17.2
36+	58	9.8
Mother’s employment**
Working	91	15.3
Not working	502	84.7
Mother’s education level
Illiterate	34	5.7
Primary	73	12.0
high school	317	53.5
Higher education	169	28.5
Parity**
Primiparous	171	28.8
Multiparous	422	71.2
Delivery method **
Normal	495	83.5
C – section	98	16.5
Types of contraceptive**
None	360	60.7
Non- Hormonal	57	29.7
hormonal	176	9.6
Nipple problems
Yes	246	41.5
No	347	58.5
Infant sex **	345	58.2
Male	248	41.8
Female
Infant birth weight(kg) **
<2.5	88	14.8
2-3.0	182	30.7
3.1-4.0	291	49.1
>4.0	12	2.0
Rooming in**
With the mother	517	87.2
In separate room	76	12.8
Feeding Pattern**
No breastfeeding	10	1.7
Any Breastfeeding	583	98.3
Frequency of breast feeding ^,*
Upon demand	315	88.5
Scheduled	41	11.8
No. of breastfeeds at night**
None	117	19.7
1-3	346	58.3
4-6	130	21.9
Initiation time of first breastfeed
≤ one hour	470	80.6
> one hour	113	19.4

ISSN: 1471-2458