Formal maternal employment is associated with lower odds of exclusive breastfeeding by 14 weeks postpartum: a cross-sectional survey in Naivasha, Kenya. Issue 3 (29th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ickes, S B; Oddo, V M; Sanders, H K; Nduati, R; Denno, D M; Myhre, J A; Kinyua, J; Iannotti, L L; Singa, B; Farquhar, C; Walson, J L
• Is Part Of: American journal of clinical nutrition. Volume 113:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 562
• Page End: 573
• Publication Date: 2021-01-29
• Subjects: maternal employment -- breastfeeding -- diet quality -- low- and middle-income countries -- infant and young child feeding; Diet therapy -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Dietetics -- Periodicals; 613.205
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqaa351
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-9165

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: In many low- and middle-income countries, improvements in exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) have stalled, delaying reductions in child mortality. Maternal employment is a potential barrier to EBF. Objectives: We evaluated associations between maternal employment and breastfeeding (BF) status. We compared formally and non–formally employed mothers in Naivasha, Kenya, where commercial floriculture and hospitality industries employ many women. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among mothers ( n = 1186) from September 2018 to October 2019 at 4 postpartum time points: at hospital discharge ( n = 296) and at 6 wk ( n = 298), 14 wk ( n = 295), and 36 wk (to estimate BF at 24 wk; n = 297) postpartum. Mothers reported their BF status and reasons for EBF cessation. We used multivariable logistic regression models to test the association between formal maternal employment and 3 outcomes: early BF initiation (within 1 h of birth), EBF at each time point, and continued BF at 9 mo. Models were informed by a directed acyclic graph: a causal diagram used to characterize the relationship among variables that influence the independent (employment) and dependent (BF status) variables. Results: EBF did not differ by employment status at hospital discharge or at 6 wk postpartum. However, formally employed mothers were less likely than those not formally employed to report EBF at 14 wk (59.0% compared with 95.4%, respectively; AOR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.34) and at 24 wk (19.0% compared with 49.6%, respectively; AOR: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.44). The prevalence of continued BF at 36 wk did not differ by group (98.1% for formally employed compared with 98.5% for non–formally employed women; AOR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.10, 6.08). The primary reasons reported for early EBF cessation were returning to work (46.5%), introducing other foods based on the child's age (33.5%), or perceived milk insufficiency (13.7%). Conclusions: As more women engage in formal employment in low- and middle-income countries, additional supports to help prolong the period of EBF may be beneficial for formally employed mothers and their children.