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. 2021 Mar 11;113(3):562-573.
doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqaa351.

Formal maternal employment is associated with lower odds of exclusive breastfeeding by 14 weeks postpartum: a cross-sectional survey in Naivasha, Kenya

S B Ickes  1   2   3 , V M Oddo  2   4 , H K Sanders  1 , R Nduati  5 , D M Denno  2   3   6   7 , J A Myhre  8 , J Kinyua  9 , L L Iannotti  10 , B Singa  9 , C Farquhar  3   11   12 , J L Walson  3   6   7   11   12
Affiliations

Formal maternal employment is associated with lower odds of exclusive breastfeeding by 14 weeks postpartum: a cross-sectional survey in Naivasha, Kenya

S B Ickes et al. Am J Clin Nutr. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: In many low- and middle-income countries, improvements in exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) have stalled, delaying reductions in child mortality. Maternal employment is a potential barrier to EBF.

Objectives: We evaluated associations between maternal employment and breastfeeding (BF) status. We compared formally and non-formally employed mothers in Naivasha, Kenya, where commercial floriculture and hospitality industries employ many women.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among mothers (n = 1186) from September 2018 to October 2019 at 4 postpartum time points: at hospital discharge (n = 296) and at 6 wk (n = 298), 14 wk (n = 295), and 36 wk (to estimate BF at 24 wk; n = 297) postpartum. Mothers reported their BF status and reasons for EBF cessation. We used multivariable logistic regression models to test the association between formal maternal employment and 3 outcomes: early BF initiation (within 1 h of birth), EBF at each time point, and continued BF at 9 mo. Models were informed by a directed acyclic graph: a causal diagram used to characterize the relationship among variables that influence the independent (employment) and dependent (BF status) variables.

Results: EBF did not differ by employment status at hospital discharge or at 6 wk postpartum. However, formally employed mothers were less likely than those not formally employed to report EBF at 14 wk (59.0% compared with 95.4%, respectively; AOR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.34) and at 24 wk (19.0% compared with 49.6%, respectively; AOR: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.44). The prevalence of continued BF at 36 wk did not differ by group (98.1% for formally employed compared with 98.5% for non-formally employed women; AOR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.10, 6.08). The primary reasons reported for early EBF cessation were returning to work (46.5%), introducing other foods based on the child's age (33.5%), or perceived milk insufficiency (13.7%).

Conclusions: As more women engage in formal employment in low- and middle-income countries, additional supports to help prolong the period of EBF may be beneficial for formally employed mothers and their children.

Keywords: breastfeeding; diet quality; infant and young child feeding; low- and middle-income countries; maternal employment.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flowchart of final analytic sample selection and classification by maternal employment category.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Reported reasons for introducing mixed feeding (n = 440).
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Reported reasons for anticipated mixed feeding among mothers still practicing EBF (n = 746). EBF, exclusive breastfeeding.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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