Factors affecting breastfeeding practices among working mothers in Kuala Langat district / Siti Harirotul Hamrok Asis
The aims of this study were to determine the factors associated with breastfeeding duration including employment factors and the provision of employer support for breastfeeding among working mothers at workplace as well as the facilitating factors for working mothers to sustain exclusive breas...
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| Format: | Thesis |
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2017
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| Online Access: | http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/7461/ http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/7461/7/harirotul.pdf |
| Summary: | The aims of this study were to determine the factors associated with
breastfeeding duration including employment factors and the provision of employer
support for breastfeeding among working mothers at workplace as well as the
facilitating factors for working mothers to sustain exclusive breastfeeding practice. A
cross sectional study involving 964 mothers with six months old babies was carried out
from 1st February to 31st December, 2010. Face to face interview using a validated
pretested structured questionnaires wasnconducted to assess sociodemographic factors,
maternal characteristics, infant characteristics, cultural belief characteristic, knowledge,
attitude and practice on breastfeeding, employment characteristics, worksite
breastfeeding education, breastfeeding policy, facilities available in workplace and
breastfeeding practice at six months. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to
determine the factors affecting the breastfeeding practice for six months duration. A
qualitative study using purposive sampling from participants involved in an earlier
study who expressed breastmilk during working and were exclusively or predominantly
breastfeeding their infants up to 4 months were followed-up. The sampling method
was theoretical sampling and the data collection technique was by in depth interview.
The interviews were audio taped and transcribed verbatim.The transcribed data were
analysed via thematic analysis. The sampling was continued until data saturation was
met, which in this study was up to 15 participants. Cross sectional study found that the
variables that showed positive association of breastfeeding at 6 months were Malay
mothers, non working mothers, and good knowledge, had the intention to continue
breastfeeding as long as possible, never felt not enough breast milk and breastfeeding
due to religion. The employment factors which demonstrated a positive association
with breastfeeding at 6 months were working in government sector, working half day,
expressed breast milk and availability of room at workplace to express breast milk. The
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qualitative study revealed four major themes of facilitating factors. They were i)
Personal factors which were perceived breast milk as the best, perceived benefits of
breastfeeding especially to babies, the need of breast milk expression in workplace and
strong self-motivation to express breast milk in workplace, ii) Work site support for
breastfeeding in which flexible hours to express breast milk, support from employers
and other employees, provision of facilities to express breast milk particularly place for
expression and refrigerator. iii) Preparation for the mother's absence while at work
which are learning to express breast milk and educate to feed the baby with expressed
breast milk, stockpiling expressed breast milk in the refrigerator and train the baby's
carer of the right way to prepare and feed the baby with expressed breast milk, iv)
Baby's care taker assistance to support the mother by feeding the baby with expressed
breast milk and maintaining the baby's service charged. Good knowledge on
breastfeeding and perception of adequacy of breastfeeding only will increase exclusive
breastfeeding practice. Education to mothers regarding the importance of exclusive
breastfeeding and avoiding the practice of giving water to babies is essential. Supportive
employers and a condusive working environment as well as baby's care taker assistance
play an important role in sustaining breastfeeding among working mothers.
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