The effect of work status on initiation and duration of breast-feeding

Abstract

Objectives. In this study, longitudinal data are used to examine the effect of work status on breast-feeding initiation and duration. Methods. Mothers from a mail panel completed questionnaires during late pregnancy and 10 times in the infant's first year. Mother's work status was categorized for initiation by hours she expected, before delivery, to work and for duration by hours she worked at month 3. Covariates were demographics; parity; medical, delivery, and hospital experiences; social support, embarrassment; and health promotion. Results. Expecting to work part-time neither decreased nor increased the probability of breast-feeding relative to expecting not to work (odds ratios [ORs] = .83 and .89, P > .50), but expecting to work full- time decreased the probability of breast-feeding (OR = .47, P