Employment and Breastfeeding Status
Abstract
The relationship between breastfeeding continuation at 12 weeks postpartum among employed women and job characteristics to include maternity leave status, job flexibility, and type of occupation; social variables to include relationship status and social support; and demographic variables to include education, race, and family income were determined. A comparative and descriptive design was used. Data were collected from secondary analysis of the Maternal Health pilot study. A convenience sample of 45 breastfeeding, employed women, living in a seven county area around Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, completed measures of their breastfeeding status, maternity leave status, job flexibility, occupation, relationship status, social support, education, race, and family income before discharge from the hospital after birth and at 12 weeks postpartum. Longer breastfeeding among employed women was significantly associated with having an education beyond high school, having a clerical or professional occupation, and having a longer maternity leave. After refining research techniques with the pilot study and secondary data, a more definitive study with a more generalizeable sample may be conducted.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA417943
Entities
People
- Anna N. Hunter
- Erica R. Weber
- Lori J. Miller
Organizations
- University of Minnesota