Maternal employment during the early postpartum period: effects on initiation and continuation of breast-feeding.
This study sought to determine whether and to what extent maternal employment in the early post-partum period is associated with the initiation and continuation of breast-feeding in a heterogeneous, urban population. A panel of women were interviewed twice during the first 3 months postpartum. In analyses adjusted for maternal demographic characteristics, there was no association between planning to be employed within the first 6 months postpartum and initiation of breast-feeding. However, actually being employed was significantly associated with cessation of breast-feeding as early as 2 or 3 months postpartum, even after adjustment for maternal demographic variables. Less than one half of mothers who were employed were still breast-feeding at the second postpartum interview, whereas two thirds of those who were not employed were still breast-feeding. Among employed mothers, working no more than 20 hours per week appeared to be protective for continued breast-feeding.
Gielen
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Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.
Faden
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O'Campo
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Brown
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CH
Paige
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D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D001942:Breast Feeding; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000208:ethnology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D044465:White People