Theory and social practice of agency in combining breastfeeding and employment: A qualitative study among health workers in New Delhi, India

Omer-Salim, Amal; Suri, Shobha; Dadhich, Jai Prakash; Faridi, M. M. A.; Olsson, Pia

doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2014.07.002

Cited by 7 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Bandura’s “agentic perspective” was adapted to fit the Indian context taking individual and collective agency into account ( Omer-Salim, Suri, Dadhich, Faridi, & Olsson, 2014 ). The existing literature on women’s agency and reproductive decision making in the rural Indian context refers to data collected 10 to 20 years ago and has little reference to health system implications.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Negotiating Collective and Individual Agency

et al. 2016

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The societal changes in India and the available variety of reproductive health services call for evidence to inform health systems how to satisfy young women’s reproductive health needs. Inspired by Foucault’s power idiom and Bandura’s agency framework, we explore young women’s opportunities to practice reproductive agency in the context of collective social expectations. We carried out in-depth interviews with 19 young women in rural Rajasthan. Our findings highlight how changes in notions of agency across generations enable young women’s reproductive intentions and desires, and call for effective means of reproductive control. However, the taboo around sex without the intention to reproduce made contraceptive use unfeasible. Instead, abortions were the preferred method for reproductive control. In conclusion, safe abortion is key, along with the need to address the taboo around sex to enable use of “modern” contraception. This approach could prevent unintended pregnancies and expand young women’s agency.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Negotiating Collective and Individual Agency

et al. 2016

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“…Twenty‐six articles 22–47 presenting data from 25 studies were included (2 articles were based on data from the same study 43,44 ). The selection process is presented in Figure 1.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Seventeen included papers were from upper‐middle‐ and high‐income countries: 7 from the United States, 22,23,25,31,32,34,42 3 from Malaysia, 30,43,44 2 each from Iran 45,46 and Australia, 24,28 and one each from the United Kindgom, 27 Ireland, 26 and New Zealand 40 . Two articles were from Tanzania, 35,37 the only low‐income country represented, and 7 articles were from lower‐middle‐income countries: 3 from India, 36,38,39 3 from Pakistan, 29,41,47 and one from Bangladesh 33 . Twenty‐three included papers focused on the experiences of women, 22,24,26–33,35–47 and 3 focused on the experiences of employers 23,25,34 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Women's and Employers’ Experiences and Views of Combining Breastfeeding with a Return to Paid Employment: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies

Chang

Harger

Beake

et al. 2021

J Midwife Womens Health

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Introduction Returning to paid employment is one of the reasons women stop breastfeeding earlier than they planned to. This systematic review aimed to provide insight into the experiences and views of women and employers on breastfeeding and returning to paid employment, with findings used to inform practice and policy. Methods The review was guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for systematic reviews of qualitative evidence. Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases were searched for studies published in English. JBI's meta‐aggregative approach informed data analysis. The studies in this analysis included women who stopped breastfeeding before, and those who continued breastfeeding after, returning to paid employment and the employers, work managers, or supervisors of women who continued breastfeeding after returning to paid employment. Results Twenty‐six articles presenting findings from 25 studies were included and critically appraised. Synthesized findings showed that women experienced physical and emotional difficulties and described gender and employment inequalities in accessing and receiving the support they needed. Women reported that the importance of their own motivation and having workplace legislation in place facilitated breastfeeding during employment. Support from employers, colleagues, and family members, as well as access to convenient child care, helped women continue breastfeeding on return to paid employment. Employers’ personal experiences influenced their views on breastfeeding and working, and the need for more education and communication between employers and employers on breastfeeding in the workplace was recognized. Discussion Support from family, work colleagues, and employers was important to reduce the physical and emotional challenges women experienced when combing breastfeeding with return to paid employment. Gender inequalities, especially in low‐ and middle‐income countries, in accessing support exacerbated the difficulties women experienced. Limited data were identified regarding employers’ experiences and views, suggesting an urgent need for further research to explore employers’ and work colleagues’ experiences and views.

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“…; Omer‐Salim et al . ). Personal enjoyment of breastfeeding can have an impact on the length of time a woman will choose to breastfeed and is a modifiable variable in breastfeeding confidence (Meedya et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Several factors can influence the length of time a woman will breastfeed including family and social circumstances, the health of the baby and other dependants, employment, the woman's own health needs, the type of birth she experienced, her previous experiences of breastfeeding, partner support and the culture within which she lives (Gatrell 2007;Miller 2007;O'Brien et al 2009;Mannion et al 2013). Anxiety about breast milk supply, infant positioning, nipple trauma, pain, mastitis and infant distress are common problems experienced by women during the early establishment of breastfeeding Sheehan et al 2013;Omer-Salim et al 2014). Personal enjoyment of breastfeeding can have an impact on the length of time a woman will choose to breastfeed and is a modifiable variable in breastfeeding confidence (Meedya et al 2010;Mannion et al 2013;Howell et al 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘This little piranha’: a qualitative analysis of the language used by health professionals and mothers to describe infant behaviour during breastfeeding

Burns

Fenwick

Sheehan

et al. 2015

Maternal & Child Nutrition

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Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life offers the recommended best start in the life for a newborn baby. Yet, in Australia only a small number of babies receive breast milk exclusively for the first 6 months. Reasons for the introduction of formula milk are multi-factorial including access to appropriate support and the woman's experience of breastfeeding. The language and practices of health professionals can impact upon how a woman feels about breastfeeding and her breastfeeding body. One aspect of breastfeeding support that has had scarce attention in the literature is the language used by health professionals to describe the behaviour of the breastfeeding infant during the early establishment phase of breastfeeding. This paper reveals some of the ways in which midwives, lactation consultants and breastfeeding women describe the newborn baby during the first week after birth. The study was conducted at two maternity units in New South Wales. Interactions between midwives and breastfeeding women were observed and audio recorded on the post-natal ward and in women's homes, in the first week after birth. The transcribed data were analysed using discourse analysis searching for recurring words, themes and metaphors used in descriptions of the breastfeeding baby. Repeated negative references to infant personality and unfavourable interpretations of infant behaviour influenced how women perceived their infant. The findings revealed that positive language and interpretations of infant breastfeeding behaviour emerged from more relationship-based communication.

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Theory and social practice of agency in combining breastfeeding and employment: A qualitative study among health workers in New Delhi, India

Cited by 7 publications

References 24 publications

Negotiating Collective and Individual Agency

Negotiating Collective and Individual Agency

Women's and Employers’ Experiences and Views of Combining Breastfeeding with a Return to Paid Employment: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies

‘This little piranha’: a qualitative analysis of the language used by health professionals and mothers to describe infant behaviour during breastfeeding

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