Physicians as mothers: breastfeeding practices of physician-mothers in Newfoundland and Labrador.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the initiation rate and duration of breastfeeding among female physicians in Newfoundland and Labrador, and to identify demographic factors that might influence duration of breastfeeding in this population.


METHODS
Mailed survey.


METHODS
Newfoundland and Labrador.


METHODS
One hundred eighty licensed female physicians.


METHODS
Self-reported initiation of breastfeeding for each baby born, duration of breastfeeding in number of months, and reasons for ending breastfeeding.


RESULTS
The response rate was 68%. The breastfeeding initiation rate among respondents was 96.6%. More physicians who graduated in 1980 or later breastfed for longer periods (63.9% vs 33.3%, P = .008). More family doctors than specialists breastfed their babies for longer periods (65.5% vs 33.3%, P = .004). More physicians whose partners were working part-time breastfed for longer periods than physicians whose partners were working full-time (83.3% vs 50.8%, P = .037). Other factors, such as age, income, maternity leave and benefits, part-time or full-time work, and urban or rural practice, did not affect duration of breastfeeding. Personal issues accounted for 51% of respondents' ending breastfeeding; baby issues accounted for 38%, practice issues for 33%, medical school issues for 4%, and societal issues for 1%.


CONCLUSIONS
The breastfeeding initiation rate among female physician respondents in Newfoundland and Labrador was 96.6%; more than 50% of these physicians breastfed for longer than 7 months. Physicians graduating in 1980 or later breastfed their babies for longer.
Duke
Pauline S
PS
Discipline of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 300 Prince Phillip Dr, St John's, NL A1B 3V6. pduke@mun.ca
Parsons
Wanda L
WL
Snow
Pamela A
PA
Edwards
Alison C
AC
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009523:Newfoundland and Labrador; D010822:Physicians, Women; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014931:Women, Working / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*