Factors associated with breastfeeding abandonment in the first month after the mother’s return to work

Abstract

The return to work of lactating mothers has been identified as an important risk factor for breastfeeding interruption. We proposed to identify factors associated with breastfeeding abandonment in the first month after return. 252 women working at a hospital who had children aged 12 to 36 months and who were still breastfeeding when returned to work answered a questionnaire containing questions on sociodemographic characteristics, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and work-related factors. The associations were estimated using adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR), calculated with the hierarchical Poisson multivariable regression model. The following factors showed a significant association with breastfeeding abandonment: using a pacifier (aPR 4.58), cohabiting with someone other than partner (aPR 3.77), having no intention or having doubts about maintaining breastfeeding after returning (aPR 3.39), having a college degree (aPR 2.66), having no support from the infant’s caregiver (aPR 2.26), and infant being older when the woman returned to work (PR 1.16 for each additional month of infant age). Longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding was a protective factor (aPR 0.990). Most of the factors associated with discontinuation of breastfeeding in the first month after the mother’s return to work are not directly related to the woman’s work.