Table 2: Characteristics of the 4533 women in the study cohort
CharacteristicNo. (%) of women*
All
n = 4533
Initiated breastfeeding
n = 2907
Did not initiate breastfeeding
n = 1626
Maternal age, yr
< 20326 (7.2)143 (4.9)183 (11.3)
20–24961 (21.2)548 (18.9)413 (25.4)
25–291333 (29.4)864 (29.7)469 (28.8)
30–341278 (28.2)899 (30.9)379 (23.3)
≥ 35635 (14.0)453 (15.6)182 (11.2)
Maternal education
Less than high school472 (12.3)188 (7.5)284 (21.3)
High school diploma1223 (31.8)671 (26.8)552 (41.4)
College diploma836 (21.8)571 (22.8)265 (19.9)
University degree1309 (34.1)1075 (42.9)234 (17.5)
Marital status
Single†1328 (36.3)707 (29.2)621 (50.2)
Married2332 (63.7)1717 (70.8)615 (49.8)
Prepregnancy BMI
Underweight128 (4.5)69 (3.7)59 (6.1)
Normal weight1327 (46.9)877 (47.2)450 (46.3)
Overweight685 (24.2)474 (25.5)211 (21.7)
Obese689 (24.4)438 (23.6)251 (25.9)
Smoking status
Nonsmoker during pregnancy2831 (67.0)2035 (75.2)796 (28.1)
Quit during pregnancy352 (8.3)234 (8.6)118 (7.8)
Smoker at admission for delivery1040 (24.6)438 (16.2)602 (39.7)
Intention to breastfeed
Yes2800 (69.3)2541 (94.6)259 (19.1)
No1243 (30.7)145 (5.4)1098 (80.9)
Primiparous mothers1889 (41.7)1319 (45.4)570 (35.1)
Type of delivery
Cesarean1245 (27.5)813 (28.0)432 (26.6)
Vaginal3288 (72.5)2094 (72.0)1194 (73.4)
Preconception folic acid supplementation965 (34.4)743 (40.7)222 (22.7)
Early breast contact (within 1 h after birth)1140 (39.9)1107 (52.1)33 (4.5)

Note: BMI = body mass index.
*Denominators for percentages do not include missing values. †Includes single, divorced, widowed and separated mothers.