Breastfeeding Practices of Women Returning to Full-Time Employment in China: Prevalence and Determinants. (February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Yi-Yan; Liu, Qian; Li, Jun-Yan; Yue, Shu-Wen; Xue, Bing; Redding, Sharon R.; Zhou, Wen-Bin; Ouyang, Yan-Qiong
• Is Part Of: Workplace health & safety. Volume 71:Number 2(2023)
• Page Start: 68
• Page End: 77
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Subjects: breastfeeding -- WHO recommendations -- social determinants of health -- workplace support -- influencing factors -- occupational health services; Industrial nursing -- Periodicals; 610.734605
• DOI: 10.1177/21650799221126371
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2165-0799

Abstract

Background: Returning to work after childbirth is a common reason for women to stop breastfeeding. This study aimed to assess breastfeeding practices and breastfeeding support available to employed women in China, and factors affecting breastfeeding duration. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 1, 243 breastfeeding women employed full-time was conducted. Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Workplace Breastfeeding Support Scale (WBSS). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the factors that are associated with breastfeeding. Results: The mean exclusive breastfeeding duration and any breastfeeding duration of full-time employed women were 5.7 ± 0.5 months and 9.8 ± 1.5 months, respectively. The total WBSS score was 46.6 ± 5.3 ( M ± SD ). Generally, women perceived coworkers ( M [ SD ] = 4.8 [1.0]) and supervisors ( M [ SD ] = 5.7 [1.2]) to be supportive of breastfeeding. Lower scores on the WBSS were related to lack of technical and facility support, indicating no access to a refrigerator to store breast milk ( M [ SD ] = 2.0 [1.5]) or to a breast pump ( M [ SD ] = 1.7 [1.7]). Similarly, a private area for expressing breast milk ( M [ SD ] = 1.4 [1.0]) was unavailable. Maternity leave, residential province, ethnicity, education level, average monthly household income, main reason for stopping exclusive breastfeeding, commute time greater than 1 hour, and the total WBSS score were also factors influencing breastfeeding duration of the full-time employed women. Conclusions: There were gaps in breastfeeding practices and workplace breastfeeding support of Chinese full-time employed women when compared with the World Health Organization recommendations. Occupational health providers should consider these findings when developing programs to support breastfeeding in the workplace.