Julia H Kim1, Jong C Shin2, Sharon M Donovan3. 1. 1 Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA. 2. 2 Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA. 3. 3 Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Returning to work is one of the main barriers to breastfeeding duration among working mothers in the United States. However, the impact of workplace lactation programs is unclear. RESEARCH AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of workplace lactation programs in the United States on breastfeeding practices. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted of seven databases through September 2017. Articles ( N = 10) meeting the inclusion criteria of describing a workplace lactation intervention and evaluation in the United States and measuring initiation, exclusivity, or duration using an experimental or observational study design were critically evaluated. Two reviewers conducted quality assessments and reviewed the full-text articles during the analysis. RESULTS: Common services provided were breast pumps, social support, lactation rooms, and breastfeeding classes. Breastfeeding initiation was very high, ranging from 87% to 98%. Several factors were significantly associated with duration of exclusive breastfeeding: (a) receiving a breast pump for one year (8.3 versus 4.7 months), (b) return-to-work consultations (40% versus 17% at 6 months), and (c) telephone support (42% versus 15% at 6 months). Each additional service (except prenatal education) dose-dependently increased exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months. Sociodemographic information including older maternal age, working part-time, longer maternity leave, and white ethnicity were associated with longer breastfeeding duration. CONCLUSION: Workplace lactation interventions increased breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusive breastfeeding, with greater changes observed with more available services. More evidence is needed on the impact of workplace support in low-income populations, and the cost-effectiveness of these programs in reducing health care costs.
BACKGROUND: Returning to work is one of the main barriers to breastfeeding duration among working mothers in the United States. However, the impact of workplace lactation programs is unclear. RESEARCH AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of workplace lactation programs in the United States on breastfeeding practices. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted of seven databases through September 2017. Articles ( N = 10) meeting the inclusion criteria of describing a workplace lactation intervention and evaluation in the United States and measuring initiation, exclusivity, or duration using an experimental or observational study design were critically evaluated. Two reviewers conducted quality assessments and reviewed the full-text articles during the analysis. RESULTS: Common services provided were breast pumps, social support, lactation rooms, and breastfeeding classes. Breastfeeding initiation was very high, ranging from 87% to 98%. Several factors were significantly associated with duration of exclusive breastfeeding: (a) receiving a breast pump for one year (8.3 versus 4.7 months), (b) return-to-work consultations (40% versus 17% at 6 months), and (c) telephone support (42% versus 15% at 6 months). Each additional service (except prenatal education) dose-dependently increased exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months. Sociodemographic information including older maternal age, working part-time, longer maternity leave, and white ethnicity were associated with longer breastfeeding duration. CONCLUSION: Workplace lactation interventions increased breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusive breastfeeding, with greater changes observed with more available services. More evidence is needed on the impact of workplace support in low-income populations, and the cost-effectiveness of these programs in reducing health care costs.
Authors: Christina Soti-Ulberg; Amber Hromi-Fiedler; Nicola L Hawley; Take Naseri; Analosa Manuele-Magele; John Ah-Ching; Rafael Pérez-Escamilla Journal: Int Breastfeed J Date: 2020-01-06 Impact factor: 3.461
Authors: Águeda Cervera-Gasch; Desirée Mena-Tudela; Fatima Leon-Larios; Neus Felip-Galvan; Soukaina Rochdi-Lahniche; Laura Andreu-Pejó; Víctor Manuel González-Chordá Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-09-02 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Elizabeth W Kimani-Murage; Calistus Wilunda; Teresia Njoki Macharia; Eva Watiri Kamande; Peter Muriuki Gatheru; Tadesse Zerfu; Hermann Pythagore Pierre Donfouet; Laura Kiige; Susan Jabando; Lynette Aoko Dinga; Betty Samburu; Richard Lilford; Paula Griffiths; Debra Jackson; France Begin; Grainne Moloney Journal: Matern Child Nutr Date: 2021-04-08 Impact factor: 3.660