Attitudes and experiences of employed women when combining exclusive breastfeeding and work: A qualitative study among office workers in Northern Ethiopia

• DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13190
• Publication Date: 2021-04-08T09:56:54Z
• Authors: Kahsu Gebrekidan; Virginia Plummer; Ensieh Fooladi; Helen Hall
• Keywords: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; RC620-627; breastfeeding; Infant; Mothers; Gynecology and obstetrics; Original Articles; 16. Peace & justice; Pediatrics; RJ1-570; 03 medical and health sciences; experience; Breast Feeding; 0302 clinical medicine; 5. Gender equality; employment; RG1-991; Humans; Female; Ethiopia; Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases; Qualitative Research

Abstract Evidence from different countries shows that the level of support given to mothers who return paid employment can significantly determine duration exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). However, little is known about how returning work impacts Ethiopian women's EBF practice. The aim this study was explore attitudes and experiences when they returned work. Mothers had an infant less than 12 months, working in government institutions Tigray region, Ethiopia, were invited participate study. Semi‐structured, face‐to‐face interviews used mothers' perspectives factors influenced interview data transcribed verbatim thematically analysed. Twenty interviewed 10 organizations. Three themes identified their accounts: mother's knowledge, practice towards breastfeeding; workplace context conditions; received at home. Most participants familiar with benefits EBF. reported colleagues more positive managers. In almost all workplaces, there no specific designated space. Participants close family members including husbands supportive. Mothers' knowledge attitude breastfeeding, conditions home found be main determining among employed women. overall women employers insufficient promote