Practice of giving exclusive breastfeeding among the babies of working mothers and house wife mothers- a comparative study

Abstract

Objectives : There is gradual reduction of exclusive breast feeding practice as age advances from birth to 6 months. The aim of the study was to see the status of exclusive breast feeding up to 6 month of age, among the babies of working mothers and housewife mothers and also to see different contributing factors among the working mothers for the initiation of breast milk substitute within this period.

Effect of maternal employment on exclusive breastfeeding practice among mothers of infants 6–12 months old in Wolkite town, Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study

“…In this study, the prevalence of EBF among employed mothers was 54.8% (95% CI 48.5–61.4%) which is lower than EBF practice among unemployed mothers 73% (95% CI 66.8–78.7%). The finding is in line with the study conducted in Nepal [ 38 ], Ghana [ 23 ], and Kenya [ 24 ] and with studies done in Ethiopia at Injibara [ 18 ], Gondar [ 19 ], Debremarkos [ 22 ], and Somali region [ 17 ]. The significant difference might be due to the fact that employed mothers might not have adequate time to feed breast milk to their infants during working hours as unemployed mothers.…”

“…Data were collected by face-to-face interviews using pre-tested structured questionnaires which were prepared after reviewing different literature such as EDHS,2016 questionnaires, and other published literature on related topics [ 17 – 19 , 21 – 24 ]. The questionnaire consists of five parts; socio-demographic characteristics, maternal health service and infant related factors, breastfeeding and related items, maternal breastfeeding-related knowledge, and other barriers to exclusive breastfeeding.…”

Understanding the Enablers and Barriers to Appropriate Infants and Young Child Feeding Practices in India: A Systematic Review

“…Higher maternal education increases women’s opportunities for employment, household earnings, and autonomy; empowers the woman to make informed child health-related decisions such as the uptake of appropriate IYCF information; and improves the woman’s attitude towards seeking appropriate child health support for appropriate IYCF [ 82 ]. While some studies have shown that women in employment have advantages of improving earnings/confidence and subsequent health-related decisions for IYCF [ 67 , 86 , 87 , 88 ], other studies have indicated that “stay-at-home” mothers (housewives) also have advantages for appropriate IYCF [ 89 , 90 ]. Being a housewife allows the mother to have enough time and support for careful consideration of appropriate IYCF practices, and the mother is not distracted by external work activities compared to the mother in employment [ 89 , 90 ].…”

Predictors of exclusive breastfeeding across three time points in Bangladesh: an examination of the 2007, 2011 and 2014 Demographic and Health Survey

“…8 This also contributes to the fact that lower-income countries, where greater proportions of women do not enter the formal workforce, typically have higher rates of EBF. 4 In a comparative study of working and non-working mothers in Bangladesh, Hassan et al 9 found that 78% of working mothers continued EBF up to 3 months and 21% at 6 months. Among non-working mothers, 66% continued EBF at 3 months and 45% at 6 months, suggesting that during the first few months of maternity leave, working mothers are able to breastfeed but have more difficulty doing so after returning to work 3–4 months post-partum.…”

“…no extra water) have also been cited as reasons for poor rates of EBF. 9,11 A study in Nepal evaluating a breastfeeding promotion programme showed that only 35% of women received 100% of the breastfeeding promotional material (e.g. the importance of breastfeeding on demand and not to provide pacifiers or teats).…”