title: Breastfeeding Initiation and Continuation by Employment Status among Korean Women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to examine the factors associated with initiation and continuation of breastfeeding among Korean women in relation to their employment status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected using a web-based self-administered questionnaire from 1,031 Korean mothers living in Seoul with babies younger than 24 months. Demographic characteristics, education on breastfeeding, rooming in, breastfeeding during hospital stay, and breastfeeding knowledge were examined. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with initiation and continuation at 1, 6 and 12 months according to mothers' employment status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Breastfeeding initiation rates were similar regardless of mothers' employment status. Continuation rates decreased for both groups of mothers, but were significantly lower among employed mothers at all duration points. Unemployed mothers who were able to keep their babies in the same room during the hospital stay were more likely to initiate breastfeeding. The factor that was consistently associated with breastfeeding continuation for all duration points among unemployed mothers was whether the mother breastfed during the hospital stay. Higher knowledge scores and having an infant with atopic dermatitis were also associated with breastfeeding continuation at 6 months and 12 months, respectively for unemployed mothers, and receiving education on breastfeeding was associated with 12-month continuation for employed mothers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results emphasize the significant roles of hospitals for breastfeeding initiation and continuation, with rooming-in, initial breastfeeding practice and education during hospital stay as important practices. In addition, for working mothers to continue their breastfeeding, significant support from the workplace is crucial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Konkuk University, Chungju, Korea.
authors.forename: Nam Mi
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Yeon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van Achterberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea. taisun@chungbuk.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Taisun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hyun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000473:pathology; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020407:Internet; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace
keywords: Breastfeeding; Employment; Web