Breastfeeding after return to work: An Australian national workplace survey
Abstract Breastfeeding initiation rates in Australia are high but duration rates fall well below the World Health Organization targets. Return to work is a known factor impacting 6 months exclusive breastfeeding and continuation into the infants second year of life. Work related factors can influenc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2023-07-01
|
| Series: | Maternal and Child Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13516 |
| _version_ | 1797805379204153344 |
|---|---|
| author | Elaine Burns Emma Elcombe Heather Pierce Sky Hugman Susanne Gannon |
| author_facet | Elaine Burns Emma Elcombe Heather Pierce Sky Hugman Susanne Gannon |
| author_sort | Elaine Burns |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Breastfeeding initiation rates in Australia are high but duration rates fall well below the World Health Organization targets. Return to work is a known factor impacting 6 months exclusive breastfeeding and continuation into the infants second year of life. Work related factors can influence a woman's confidence in maintaining breastmilk supply after return to employment and determine whether she meets her personal breastfeeding goals. This cross‐sectional online survey is the first Australian study to explore women's experience of maintaining breastfeeding after return to work, in all work sectors. Results revealed variations across work sectors reflected in worker autonomy and confidence in speaking up about breastfeeding rights. Women who had autonomy or flexibility in planning their workday were more likely to be confident in maintaining breastmilk supply. The main predictors for milk supply confidence and meeting personal breastfeeding goals included having: a suitable place to express milk; confidence in speaking out about rights; a formal return‐to‐work plan; a supportive workplace; and returning to work after the period of exclusive breastfeeding. This study reveals that supportive workplace environments can lead to increased confidence in maintaining milk supply, extending durations of breastfeeding. Women who are confident in their rights to express breastmilk, or breastfeed at work, are more likely to meet their own breastfeeding goals. Education, and awareness raising, on the rights of breastfeeding women in the workplace, is a gender equity imperative that can improve experiences for breastfeeding women, and, increase manager and co‐worker knowledge for creating enabling workplace environments for breastfeeding employees. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T05:51:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b600a71078634165b2cf08b498d57d62 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1740-8695 1740-8709 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T05:51:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Maternal and Child Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-b600a71078634165b2cf08b498d57d622023-06-13T13:13:45ZengWileyMaternal and Child Nutrition1740-86951740-87092023-07-01193n/an/a10.1111/mcn.13516Breastfeeding after return to work: An Australian national workplace surveyElaine Burns0Emma Elcombe1Heather Pierce2Sky Hugman3Susanne Gannon4School of Nursing and Midwifery Western Sydney University Sydney New South Wales AustraliaIngham Institute for Applied Medical Research Western Sydney University Sydney New South Wales AustraliaSchool of Nursing and Midwifery Western Sydney University Sydney New South Wales AustraliaSchool of Social Sciences Western Sydney University Sydney New South Wales AustraliaSchool of Education Western Sydney University Sydney New South Wales AustraliaAbstract Breastfeeding initiation rates in Australia are high but duration rates fall well below the World Health Organization targets. Return to work is a known factor impacting 6 months exclusive breastfeeding and continuation into the infants second year of life. Work related factors can influence a woman's confidence in maintaining breastmilk supply after return to employment and determine whether she meets her personal breastfeeding goals. This cross‐sectional online survey is the first Australian study to explore women's experience of maintaining breastfeeding after return to work, in all work sectors. Results revealed variations across work sectors reflected in worker autonomy and confidence in speaking up about breastfeeding rights. Women who had autonomy or flexibility in planning their workday were more likely to be confident in maintaining breastmilk supply. The main predictors for milk supply confidence and meeting personal breastfeeding goals included having: a suitable place to express milk; confidence in speaking out about rights; a formal return‐to‐work plan; a supportive workplace; and returning to work after the period of exclusive breastfeeding. This study reveals that supportive workplace environments can lead to increased confidence in maintaining milk supply, extending durations of breastfeeding. Women who are confident in their rights to express breastmilk, or breastfeed at work, are more likely to meet their own breastfeeding goals. Education, and awareness raising, on the rights of breastfeeding women in the workplace, is a gender equity imperative that can improve experiences for breastfeeding women, and, increase manager and co‐worker knowledge for creating enabling workplace environments for breastfeeding employees.https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13516breastfeedingemploymentgender equityhuman rightssurveyworkplace |
| spellingShingle | Elaine Burns Emma Elcombe Heather Pierce Sky Hugman Susanne Gannon Breastfeeding after return to work: An Australian national workplace survey Maternal and Child Nutrition breastfeeding employment gender equity human rights survey workplace |
| title | Breastfeeding after return to work: An Australian national workplace survey |
| title_full | Breastfeeding after return to work: An Australian national workplace survey |
| title_fullStr | Breastfeeding after return to work: An Australian national workplace survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Breastfeeding after return to work: An Australian national workplace survey |
| title_short | Breastfeeding after return to work: An Australian national workplace survey |
| title_sort | breastfeeding after return to work an australian national workplace survey |
| topic | breastfeeding employment gender equity human rights survey workplace |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13516 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elaineburns breastfeedingafterreturntoworkanaustraliannationalworkplacesurvey AT emmaelcombe breastfeedingafterreturntoworkanaustraliannationalworkplacesurvey AT heatherpierce breastfeedingafterreturntoworkanaustraliannationalworkplacesurvey AT skyhugman breastfeedingafterreturntoworkanaustraliannationalworkplacesurvey AT susannegannon breastfeedingafterreturntoworkanaustraliannationalworkplacesurvey |