Breastfeeding Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice among White-Collar and Blue-Collar Workers in Indonesia

Abstract

Background: Working status is identified as a major risk factor of poor breastfeeding practices among workers. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and factors associated with breastfeeding practice among white-collar and blue-collar workers in Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in two factories and three government offices in Jakarta from December 2015 to February 2016. Subjects were woman workers whose children were age 6 to 24 months old and actively working in the factory and/or office. The factors studied were selected socio-demographic and occupational characteristics, score on knowledge and attitude, and breastfeeding practice during working hours. Results: From a total of 192 subjects, 73% of white-collar workers had good knowledge on breastfeeding, in contrast with 55% of blue-collar workers who had not good breastfeeding knowledge (P < 0.001). Most of the subjects were conducting breast pumping during working hours, however 15% of white-collar workers and 17% of blue-collar workers never breastfeed nor breast pumped at work. Working status (P = 0.005) and knowledge (P = 0.002) were factors associated with breastfeeding practice among workers. Conclusion: White-collar workers have a better knowledge, attitude, and practice toward breastfeeding. Knowledge improvement related to breastfeeding benefits and supports to working mothers are a key priority, however advocacy to employers, managers, and supervisors in providing breastfeeding facilitation and program support were also critical to successful breastfeeding practice among workers.

Education Effect of Acute Hepatitis in Unknown Causes on Knowledge of Health Workers and Students

“…Another study by Ray, et al (2019) also stated that there were differences in knowledge and attitudes based on one's job status. The level of knowledge is better on whitecollar or explicitly referring to office workers with fixed wages every month, compared to blue collar, which refers to unskilled laborers with hourly wages with a low average monthly accumulation (Basrowi et al, 2019).…”

Psychometric Assessment of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Indonesian Mothers

“…For example, non-working women had higher breastfeeding self-efficacy scores than working women. Working women often face challenges to continue breastfeeding at work, including not having enough time for leaving the workplace to express human milk or the unavailability of lactation facilities at the workplace (Basrowi et al, 2019). A better breastfeeding support measures at the workplace will help working women successfully cope with breastfeeding challenges (Basrowi et al, 2018).…”

Breastfeeding and its risk factors

“…Governments should develop campaigns to improve the knowledge about the benefits of breastfeeding. 3 Campaigns focusing on breastfeeding benefits and supporting initiatives for working mothers are a key priority. Advocacy to employers, managers and supervisors in providing breastfeeding facilitations and breastfeeding program support is critical to successful breastfeeding practice among workers.…”

“…Advocacy to employers, managers and supervisors in providing breastfeeding facilitations and breastfeeding program support is critical to successful breastfeeding practice among workers. 3 According to data from Indonesia, white-collar workers have better knowledge, attitude, and practice towards breastfeeding. 3 de Morais correctly highlights a possible bias in their findings since their study is restricted to infants born in private practices.…”

“… 3 According to data from Indonesia, white-collar workers have better knowledge, attitude, and practice towards breastfeeding. 3 de Morais correctly highlights a possible bias in their findings since their study is restricted to infants born in private practices. This selected population represents only 20% of the Brazilian population, mostly from the highest socioeconomic classes, and thus white-collar workers.…”