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Table 2 Sample distribution by demographic factors

From: Social circumstances and cultural beliefs influence maternal nutrition, breastfeeding and child feeding practices in South Africa

 

Indicator

 

% (N = 84)

Maternal characteristics

Mother/caregiver mean age (yrs)

34.7 ± 11.7

 

Maternal education

Primary (up to grade 7)

20

Secondary (grade 8–11)

50

Matric (grade 12)

29

Post matric

1

Maternal source of income

None

26

Child support grant only

61

Child support grant and other sources

4

Government grant

5

Pension

1

Domestic worker

2

Trainee

1

Household characteristics

Household head

Female-headed households

56

Male-headed households

44

Household head source of income

None

21

Old age grant

17

Government grant

27

Pension

4

Part-time/full time job

31

Household mean food expenditure per month

R1124 ± R667

 

Mean household size

6.9 ± 3.6 persons

 

Child characteristics

Mean age in months

16.3 ± 6.1

 

Sex of child

Female

56

Male

44

Infant breastfeeding practices

Immediate breastfeeding initiation

79

Feeding colostrum

79

Never breastfed

21

Exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months of life

Mothers continued breastfeeding till: 12.3 ± 6.1 months

36

Mixed feeding

Mean initiation started at: 2.3 ± 1.4 months

16

 

Substitute breastfeeding feedinga

Mean initiation age: 2.0 ± 1.5 months

49

  1. aThis also includes those children who have never been breastfed