Exploring Breastfeeding practice among employed mothers and perception of employers towards breastfeeding practice of employed mothers Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2017-06
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
Background: Breastfeeding is considered to be the gold standard of infant feeding. From the global 10 million under five deaths each year 800,000 occurs as a result of suboptimal Breastfeeding. Multiple factors make breastfeeding experience of mothers difficult where maternal employment and realted unfavorable situations is one factor mentioned repeatedly. Objective: To explore the breastfeeding practices of employed mothers and to explore the experience and perception of employers on the breastfeeding practice of employed mothers in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
Method: The study was conducted in Addis Ababa. A qualitative approach was used and descriptive Phenomenology strategy was employed. We included 27 participants, 10 employers and 17 employed mothers, where purposive sampling technique was used and data was collected until information saturation was reached. Recorded interviews were transcribed in Amharic and then translated to English. Data were then organize and coded to generate categories and major themes.
Results: After analysis three themes were generated from the data of the employed mothers and four themes were generated from the data of the employers. Mothers agree on the importance of breastfeeding for children and return to work is expressed as one of the major barriers to breastfeeding. Mothers with either accommodation expressed better breastfeeding practice and better satisfaction with their job.
Employers in institution with none of the accommodations expressed the lack of motivation of mothers after coming back to work. Employers in institutions that offer either of the accommodations explained better productivity, focus and better breastfeeding practice of mothers on work. Onsite child care center is the most focused on accommodation by stakeholders despite concerns.
Conclusion and Recommendation: Better breastfeeding and productivity is ensured with a mother friendly work environment and onsite childcare center is presented as a better option of accommodation for both mothers and employers. Incentives like support with resources and publicizing organizations with friendly environment can be done to motivate organizations and other researchers can focus on cost analysis of the different accommodation quantitatively to further find out benefits of friendly environments. Key words: breastfeeding, employed mothers, workenvironment.
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breastfeeding, employed mothers, workenvironment.