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Comparative Study
. 2011 Jun;127(6):e1414-27.
doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-0459. Epub 2011 May 29.

The effect of maternity leave length and time of return to work on breastfeeding

Chinelo Ogbuanu  1 , Saundra Glover, Janice Probst, Jihong Liu, James Hussey
Affiliations
Comparative Study

The effect of maternity leave length and time of return to work on breastfeeding

Chinelo Ogbuanu et al. Pediatrics. 2011 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: We investigated the effect of maternity leave length and time of first return to work on breastfeeding.

Methods: Data were from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort. Restricting our sample to singletons whose biological mothers were the respondents at the 9-month interview and worked in the 12 months before delivery (N = 6150), we classified the length of total maternity leave (weeks) as 1 to 6, 7 to 12, ≥ 13, and did not take; paid maternity leave (weeks) as 0, 1 to 6, ≥ 7, and did not take; and time of return to work postpartum (weeks) as 1 to 6, 7 to 12, ≥ 13, and not yet returned. Analyses included χ(2) tests and multiple logistic regressions.

Results: In our study population, 69.4% initiated breastfeeding with positive variation by both total and paid maternity leave length, and time of return to work. In adjusted analyses, neither total nor paid maternity leave length had any impact on breastfeeding initiation or duration. Compared with those returning to work within 1 to 6 weeks, women who had not yet returned to work had a greater odds of initiating breastfeeding (odds ratio [OR]: 1.46 [1.08-1.97]; risk ratios [RR]: 1.13 [1.03-1.22]), continuing any breastfeeding beyond 6 months (OR: 1.41 [0.87-2.27]; RR: 1.25 [0.91-1.61]), and predominant breastfeeding beyond 3 months (OR: 2.01 [1.06-3.80]; RR: 1.70 [1.05-2.53]). Women who returned to work at or after 13 weeks postpartum had higher odds of predominantly breastfeeding beyond 3 months (OR: 2.54 [1.51-4.27]; RR: 1.99 [1.38-2.69]).

Conclusion: If new mothers delay their time of return to work, then duration of breastfeeding among US mothers may lengthen.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flowchart for the determination of the study sample. Sample sizes were rounded to the nearest “50” due to the restricted-use license requirement.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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