Table 5

Attitudes of 146 health visitors from the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale

SD-strongly disagree, D-disagree, N-neutral, A-agree, SA-strongly agree
 SD %
 D %
 N %
 A %
 SA %
1.
 The benefits of breast milk last only as long as the baby is breast fed*
 76
 11
 6
 3
 3
2.
 Formula feeding is more convenient than breastfeeding*
 56
 24
 12
 3
 5
3.
 Breastfeeding increases mother infant bonding
 3
 6
 16
 20
 55
4.
 Breast milk is lacking in iron*
 40
 26
 18
 6
 9
5.
 Formula fed babies are more likely to be overfed than breastfed babies
 3
 11
 20
 37
 30
6.
 Formula feeding is the better choice if the mother plans to go back to work*
 39
 39
 19
 3
 1
7.
 Mothers who formula feed miss one of the great joys of motherhood
 12
 12
 28
 24
 24
8.
 Women should not breastfeed in public places such as restaurants*
 82
 10
 3
 2
 3
9.
 Breastfed babies are healthier than formula fed babies
 3
 5
 16
 32
 45
10.
 Breastfed babies are more likely to be overfed than formula fed babies*
 60
 21
 14
 2
 3
11.
 Fathers feel left out if a mother breast feeds*
 16
 23
 42
 18
 1
12.
 Breast milk is the ideal food for babies
 7
 0
 0
 2
 91
13.
 Breast milk is more easily digested than formula
 6
 2
 0
 8
 84
14.
 Formula is as healthy for an infant as breast milk*
 44
 29
 19
 6
 2
15.
 Breastfeeding is more convenient than formula
 3
 2
 12
 29
 54
16.
 Breast milk is cheaper than formula
 5
 3
 5
 10
 77
17.
 A mother who occasionally drinks alcohol should not breastfeed her baby*
 47
 31
 15
 3
 4

*Variables reverse scored to calculate total infant feeding attitude so that a strongly breastfeeding attitude has a score of 5 for each question giving a maximum score of 85 and minimum of 17

Mean score 71.2 SD 8.4 Cronbach's a = 0.79, median 72, range 28–85, interquartile range 66–77

Tappin et al. International Breastfeeding Journal 2006 1:11   doi:10.1186/1746-4358-1-11