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Challenges Of Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Working Class Women
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to study
The 2008 Lancet
Series on Maternal and Child Undernutrition indicated that suboptimum
breastfeeding, especially not exclusively breastfeeding a child for the
first six months of life, results in 1.4 million deaths and 10 % of the
disease burden in children younger than five years in low-income and
middle-income countries [1] . Other statistics indicate that one hundred
and thirty-five million babies are delivered annually, but only 42 %
(57 million) initiate breastfeeding within the first hour after birth,
39 % are breastfed exclusively during the first six months, and 58 %
continue breastfeeding up to the age of two years [2] . Several studies
have reported barriers accounting for this situation, including
returning to work after delivery [3] . Others have stated factors that
determine the success of exclusive breastfeeding even upon return to
work, indicating that a supportive workplace and working environment are
essential [4] . Yet, the Nigeria 2010 Population and Housing Census
Report showed an increasing trend of women joining the labour force [5] .
Guendelman et al. note that the challenge of balancing breastfeeding
and paid work is an important reason for breastfeeding cessation in the
first six months [6] . In Nigeria, the success of exclusive
breastfeeding is subject to the nature of a women’s job and occupation,
especially at places where women are engaged in industrial work away
from home, and long working hours [7, 8] . Elsewhere, Magner, and
Phillipi attribute cessation of breastfeeding within the first month to
returning to work [9] . Aryeetey and Goh note that exclusive
breastfeeding in Nigeria usually lasts for a median of about three
months, which, incidentally coincides with the maternity leave period
[10] . Cai et al. in their 2012 “global trends in exclusive
breastfeeding†indicate that the early cessation of exclusive
breastfeeding favours the use of commercial breast milk substitutes,
often of poor nutritional quality [11] . Recently, Fosu-brefo and Arthur
in their work titled “effect of timely initiation of breastfeeding on
child health in Nigeria†acknowledged that interventions that improved
child health and prevented childhood diseases included early
breastfeeding initiation [12] . Also, the factors acknowledged locally
in Nigeria, Ayton and colleagues have identified several others that are
harmfully associated with effective breastfeeding, such as delays in
and/or failure of early breastfeeding initiation [13] . Exploring the
constraints to exclusive breastfeeding practice among working class
Breastfeeding mothers in Southwest Nigeria, Agunbiade and Ogunleye note
that early introduction of complementary feeding, based on false beliefs
that it is only beneficial to infants less than six months, adversely
affects breastfeeding initiation and sustainability [14] . In China and
Western Kenya, several factors accounted for low EBF prevalence among
working mothers. Early return to work, limited flexibility of work
hours, lack of privacy [15] , as well as a feeling of being watched and
judged, lack of support including networks, tiredness and emotional
support at work [16] were cited as challenges facing working mothers.
Mother’s work outside the home, father’s type of occupation (demanding
occupations) which may limit their support for mothers to breastfeed and
shorter maternity leave regulation also hindered EBF practice among
professional working mothers in Vietnam [17] , who all intended to
exclusively breastfeed. These studies report that although most working
mothers leave the maternity ward breastfeeding exclusively, the practice
is quickly abandoned, mostly due to work and employment related
factors.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]Background: In Nigeria, periodic national surveys report the practice of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in the general population to be over 50 %. However, little is known about EBF among professional working mothers, particularly its duration after maternity leave. Female workers are entitled to 12 weeks (84 days) of maternity leave with full pay in Nigeria, and this can be extended by two additional weeks in case of a caesarean or abnormal delivery. This study assessed the prevalence of EBF, as ... Continue reading---
