title: The enablers and barriers to continue breast milk feeding in women returning to work.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the enablers and barriers working women experience in continuing breast milk feeding after they return to work postpartum in urban Malaysia.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  In Malaysia, urban working women have low rates of breastfeeding and struggle to achieve the recommended 6 months exclusive breastfeeding.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative enquiry based on a phenomenological framework and multiple methods were used to explore women's experiences in depth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multiple qualitative methods using face-to-face interview and participant diary were used. Data collection took place in urban suburbs around Penang and Klang Valley, Malaysia from March-September 2011. Participants were 40 employed women with infants less than 24 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 11 of the participants worked from home. Based on the women's experiences, we categorized them into three groups: 'Passionate' women with a strong determination and exclusively breastfed for 6 months, 'Ambivalent' women who initiated breastfeeding, but were unable to sustain exclusive breastfeeding after returning to work and 'Equivalent' women who introduced infant formula prior to returning to work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Passion and to a lesser extent intention, influenced women's choice. Women's characteristics played a greater role in their infant feeding outcomes than their work environment.
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.|Department of Public Health, School of Psychology and Public Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Zaharah
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sulaiman
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Psychology and Public Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Pranee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liamputtong
authors.affiliation: Judith Lumley Centre, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Amir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D014504:Urban Health; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology*; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Malaysia; barriers; breastfeeding; enablers; interviews; nursing; qualitative; working women