Maternal employment characteristics as a structural social determinant of breastfeeding after return to work in the European Region: a scoping review.
Infant and young child feeding practice
Social determinants of health
Working mother
Journal
International breastfeeding journal
ISSN: 1746-4358
Titre abrégé: Int Breastfeed J
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101251562
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
28 May 2024
28 May 2024
Historique:
received:
06
07
2023
accepted:
10
05
2024
medline:
29
5
2024
pubmed:
29
5
2024
entrez:
28
5
2024
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
The European Region has the lowest rate of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months worldwide. Improving work-related breastfeeding issues is important given that women may have difficulties combining work and breastfeeding, especially those in precarious working situations, which adds to their adversity. This scoping review overviews research on the maternal employment characteristics that support breastfeeding continuation after return to work in the European Region. Studies published from 2013 to 2023 were collected from Scopus, PubMed, and PsycInfo. Quantitative and qualitative studies published in English or French that explored the association between maternal employment characteristics and any breastfeeding status, duration, or experience were included. Participants included were mothers of healthy children who continued breastfeeding after resuming work. The main determinants were work-related factors that can lead to socially differentiated working conditions, including type of employment (e.g., occupation, employed/self-employed status, type of contract, working time, occupational prestige), working conditions (e.g., work schedule, decision latitude, latitude to organize worktime), and work environment (e.g., occupational exposure, family-friendly workplace policy, social support). The geographic area encompassed countries included in the World Health Organization European Region. Of the 693 single studies retrieved and screened, 13 were included in the review. Eight studies focused on combining work and breastfeeding, while the others had a broader spectrum by investigating breastfeeding determinants. The represented countries were Spain (n = 4), France (n = 4), UK (n = 2), Ireland (n = 2), and the Netherlands (n = 1). Results highlighted the heterogeneity of measures, time frames, and fields of inquiry, thus revealing a lack of conceptual framework regarding the links between work, breastfeeding, and social health inequalities. Nonetheless, being self-employed, working in a non-manual profession with time flexibility, having lactation rooms at work, being supported by co-workers, and having a breastfeeding workplace policy were salient factors that supported breastfeeding in working mothers. Supporting working mothers who choose to breastfeed is important given the myriad of adverse factors faced by mothers and their children. These results advocate for targeted actions at the workplace such as time flexibility, breastfeeding facilities, and the promotion of breastfeeding-friendly policies.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
The European Region has the lowest rate of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months worldwide. Improving work-related breastfeeding issues is important given that women may have difficulties combining work and breastfeeding, especially those in precarious working situations, which adds to their adversity. This scoping review overviews research on the maternal employment characteristics that support breastfeeding continuation after return to work in the European Region.
METHODS
METHODS
Studies published from 2013 to 2023 were collected from Scopus, PubMed, and PsycInfo. Quantitative and qualitative studies published in English or French that explored the association between maternal employment characteristics and any breastfeeding status, duration, or experience were included. Participants included were mothers of healthy children who continued breastfeeding after resuming work. The main determinants were work-related factors that can lead to socially differentiated working conditions, including type of employment (e.g., occupation, employed/self-employed status, type of contract, working time, occupational prestige), working conditions (e.g., work schedule, decision latitude, latitude to organize worktime), and work environment (e.g., occupational exposure, family-friendly workplace policy, social support). The geographic area encompassed countries included in the World Health Organization European Region.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Of the 693 single studies retrieved and screened, 13 were included in the review. Eight studies focused on combining work and breastfeeding, while the others had a broader spectrum by investigating breastfeeding determinants. The represented countries were Spain (n = 4), France (n = 4), UK (n = 2), Ireland (n = 2), and the Netherlands (n = 1). Results highlighted the heterogeneity of measures, time frames, and fields of inquiry, thus revealing a lack of conceptual framework regarding the links between work, breastfeeding, and social health inequalities. Nonetheless, being self-employed, working in a non-manual profession with time flexibility, having lactation rooms at work, being supported by co-workers, and having a breastfeeding workplace policy were salient factors that supported breastfeeding in working mothers.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Supporting working mothers who choose to breastfeed is important given the myriad of adverse factors faced by mothers and their children. These results advocate for targeted actions at the workplace such as time flexibility, breastfeeding facilities, and the promotion of breastfeeding-friendly policies.
Identifiants
pubmed: 38807238
doi: 10.1186/s13006-024-00643-y
pii: 10.1186/s13006-024-00643-y
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Review
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
38Informations de copyright
© 2024. The Author(s).
Références
Bagci Bosi A, Eriksen K, Sobko T, Wijnhoven T, Breda J. Breastfeeding practices and policies in WHO European region member states. Public Health Nutr. 2016;19(4):753–64. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980015001767 .
doi: 10.1017/S1368980015001767
pubmed: 26096540
Ibanez G, Martin N, Denantes M, Saurel-Cubizolles MJ, Ringa V, Magnier AM. Prevalence of breastfeeding in industrialized countries. Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique. 2012;60(4):305–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respe.2012.02.008 .
doi: 10.1016/j.respe.2012.02.008
pubmed: 22835774
Theurich M, Davanzo R, Busck-Rasmussen M, Díaz-Gómez N, Brennan C, Kylberg E, et al. Breastfeeding rates and programs in europe: A survey of 11 national breastfeeding committees and representatives. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2019;68(3):400–7. https://doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0000000000002234 .
doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000002234
pubmed: 30562307
Vanderlinden K, Buffel V, Van de Putte B, Van de Velde S. Motherhood in Europe: An examination of parental leave regulations and breastfeeding policy influences on breastfeeding initiation and duration. Soc Sci. 2020;9(12):222. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci9120222 .
doi: 10.3390/socsci9120222
Rollins NC, Bhandari N, Hajeebhoy N, Horton S, Lutter CK, Martines JC, et al. Why invest, and what it will take to improve breastfeeding practices? Lancet. 2016;387(10017):491–504. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01044-2 .
doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01044-2
pubmed: 26869576
Rollins N, Piwoz E, Baker P, Kingston G, Mabaso KM, McCoy D, et al. Marketing of commercial milk formula: a system to capture parents, communities, science, and policy. Lancet. 2023;401(10375):486–502. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01931-6 .
doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01931-6
pubmed: 36764314
Van Esterik P. Breastfeeding and feminism. Int J Gynecol Obstet. 1994;47:S41-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-7292(94)02233-o .
doi: 10.1016/0020-7292(94)02233-o
Risman BJ. Gender as a social structure: Theory wrestling with activism. Gend Soc. 2011;18(4):429–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891243204265349 .
doi: 10.1177/0891243204265349
Fein SB, Mandal B, Roe BE. Success of strategies for combining employment and breastfeeding. Pediatrics. 2008;122(suppl 2):S56-62. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2008-1315g .
doi: 10.1542/peds.2008-1315g
pubmed: 18829832
Standish KR, Parker MG. Social determinants of breastfeeding in the United States. Clin Ther. 2022;44(2):186–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2021.11.010 .
doi: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2021.11.010
pubmed: 34906370
Murtagh L, Moulton AD. Working mothers, breastfeeding, and the law. Am J Public Health. 2011;101(2):217–23. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2009.185280 .
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2009.185280
pubmed: 21164100
pmcid: 3020209
Tomori C, Palmquist AE, Dowling S. Contested moral landscapes: Negotiating breastfeeding stigma in breastmilk sharing, nighttime breastfeeding, and long-term breastfeeding in the US and the UK. Soc Sci Med. 2016;168:178–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.09.014 .
doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.09.014
pubmed: 27664771
pmcid: 5108090
Gojard S. L’allaitement : Une pratique socialement différenciée [Breastfeeding: A socially differentiated practice]. Rech Prévisions. 1988;53(1):23–34. https://doi.org/10.3406/caf.1998.1823 .
doi: 10.3406/caf.1998.1823
Kimbro RT. On-the-job moms: work and breastfeeding initiation and duration for a sample of low-income women. Matern Child Health J. 2006;10:19–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-005-0058-7 .
doi: 10.1007/s10995-005-0058-7
pubmed: 16521055
Benach J, Muntaner C, Santana V. Benach J, Muntaner C, Santana V. Employment conditions knowledge network (EMCONET). Employ. Cond. Heal. inequalities. Final Rep. to WHO Comm. Soc. Determ. Heal. 2007. Available from: https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/8328x .
Peters MD, Marnie C, Tricco AC, Pollock D, Munn Z, Alexander L, et al. Updated methodological guidance for the conduct of scoping reviews. JBI Evid Synth. 2020;18(10):2119–26. https://doi.org/10.11124/JBIES-20-00167 .
doi: 10.11124/JBIES-20-00167
pubmed: 33038124
Tricco AC, Lillie E, Zarin W, O’Brien KK, Colquhoun H, Levac D, et al. PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and explanation. Ann Intern Med. 2018;169(7):467–73. https://doi.org/10.7326/M18-0850 .
doi: 10.7326/M18-0850
pubmed: 30178033
Cervera-Gasch Á, Mena-Tudela D, Leon-Larios F, Felip-Galvan N, Rochdi-Lahniche S, Andreu-Pejó L, et al. Female employees’ perception of breastfeeding support in the workplace, public universities in Spain: A multicentric comparative study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(17):6402. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176402 .
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17176402
pubmed: 32887489
pmcid: 7504108
de Lauzon-Guillain B, Thierry X, Bois C, Bournez M, Davisse-Paturet C, Dufourg MN, et al. Maternity or parental leave and breastfeeding duration: Results from the ELFE cohort. Matern Child Nutr. 2019;15(4):e12872. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12872 .
doi: 10.1111/mcn.12872
pubmed: 31284324
pmcid: 6859974
Desmond D, Meaney S. A qualitative study investigating the barriers to returning to work for breastfeeding mothers in Ireland. Int Breastfeed J. 2016;11:16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-016-0075-8 .
doi: 10.1186/s13006-016-0075-8
pubmed: 27293472
pmcid: 4902923
Bonet M, Marchand L, Kaminski M, Fohran A, Betoko A, Charles MA, et al. Breastfeeding duration, social and occupational characteristics of mothers in the French ‘EDEN mother-child’ cohort. Matern Child Health J. 2013;17(4):714–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-1053-4 .
doi: 10.1007/s10995-012-1053-4
pubmed: 22729659
Castetbon K, Boudet-Berquier J, Salanave B. Combining breastfeeding and work: Findings from the Epifane population-based birth cohort. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020;20:110. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-2801-x .
doi: 10.1186/s12884-020-2801-x
pubmed: 32066396
pmcid: 7027215
Hentges M, Pilot E. Making it ‘work’: Mothers’ perceptions of workplace breastfeeding and pumping at Dutch universities. Int Breastfeed J. 2021;16:87. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-021-00433-w .
doi: 10.1186/s13006-021-00433-w
pubmed: 34749779
pmcid: 8573765
Leon-Larios F, Pinero-Pinto E, Arnedillo-Sanchez S, Ruiz-Ferron C, Casado-Mejia R, Benitez-Lugo M. Female employees’ perception of breastfeeding-friendly support in a public university in Spain. Public Health Nurs. 2019;36(3):370–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.12590 .
doi: 10.1111/phn.12590
pubmed: 30740776
Zilanawala A. Maternal nonstandard work schedules and breastfeeding behaviors. Matern Child Health J. 2017;21(6):1308–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-016-2233-4 .
doi: 10.1007/s10995-016-2233-4
pubmed: 28092057
pmcid: 5443849
Jackson JE, Hallam JL. ‘It’s quite a taboo subject’: An investigation of mother’s experiences of breastfeeding beyond infancy and the challenges they face. Women Health. 2021;61(6):572–80. https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2021.1938790 .
doi: 10.1080/03630242.2021.1938790
pubmed: 34112061
Villar M, Santa-Marina L, Murcia M, Amiano P, Gimeno S, Ballester F, et al. Social factors associated with non-initiation and cessation of predominant breastfeeding in a mother-child cohort in Spain. Matern Child Health J. 2018;22(5):725–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-018-2441-1 .
doi: 10.1007/s10995-018-2441-1
pubmed: 29349652
Huet F, Maigret P, Elias-Billon I, Allaert FA. Identifying clinical, sociological, economic and regional determinants of the duration of maternal breastfeeding. J Pediatr Pueric. 2016;29(4):177–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpp.2016.04.010 .
doi: 10.1016/j.jpp.2016.04.010
Iglesias-Rosado B, Leon-Larios F. Breastfeeding experiences of Latina migrants living in Spain: A qualitative descriptive study. Int Breastfeed J. 2021;16:76. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-021-00423-y .
doi: 10.1186/s13006-021-00423-y
pubmed: 34627323
pmcid: 8502090
Zhou Q, Chen H, Younger KM, Cassidy TM, Kearney JM. ‘I was determined to breastfeed, and I always found a solution’: Successful experiences of exclusive breastfeeding among Chinese mothers in Ireland. Int Breastfeed J. 2020;15:47. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-020-00292-x .
doi: 10.1186/s13006-020-00292-x
pubmed: 32434576
pmcid: 7240908
Bai DL, Fong DYT, Tarrant M. Factors associated with breastfeeding duration and exclusivity in mothers returning to paid employment postpartum. Matern Child Health J. 2015;19(5):990–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-014-1596-7 .
doi: 10.1007/s10995-014-1596-7
pubmed: 25095769
Spitzmueller C, Zhang J, Thomas CL, Wang Z, Fisher GG, Matthews RA, et al. Identifying job characteristics related to employed women’s breastfeeding behaviors. J Occup Health Psychol. 2018;23(4):457–70. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000119 .
doi: 10.1037/ocp0000119
pubmed: 29756788
Magnanosan Lio R, Maugeri A, La Rosa MC, Cianci A, Panella M, Giunta G, et al. The impact of socio-demographic factors on breastfeeding: Findings from the ‘Mamma & bambino’ cohort. Medicina. 2021;57(2):103. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57020103 .
doi: 10.3390/medicina57020103
Dominguez Folgueras M. Des politiques d’allaitement déconnectées de la réalité [Breastfeeding policies out of touch with reality]. SciencesPo. 2020 [cited 2023 Mar 20]; Available from: https://www.sciencespo.fr/research/cogito/home/des-politiques-dallaitement-deconnectees-de-la-realite/ .
Sarki M, Parlesak A, Robertson A. Comparison of national cross-sectional breast-feeding surveys by maternal education in Europe (2006–2016). Public Health Nutr. 2019;22(5):848–61. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980018002999 .
doi: 10.1017/S1368980018002999
pubmed: 30516455
Yngve A, Sjstrm M. Breastfeeding determinants and a suggested framework for action in Europe. Public Health Nutr. 2001;4(2b):729–39. https://doi.org/10.1079/PHN2001164 .
doi: 10.1079/PHN2001164
pubmed: 11683569
Delamaire C. L’allaitement maternel: Vécu et opinions des mères en 2009 [Breastfeeding: Experiences and opinions of mothers in 2009]. Santé Homme. 2010;409:50–1.
Michie S, Van Stralen MM, West R. The behaviour change wheel: A new method for characterising and designing behaviour change interventions. Implement Sci. 2011;6(1):1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-6-42 .
doi: 10.1186/1748-5908-6-42
Meedya S, Fahy K, Kable A. Factors that positively influence breastfeeding duration to 6 months: A literature review. Women Birth. 2010;23(4):135–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2010.02.002 .
doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2010.02.002
pubmed: 20299299
Lau CYK, Lok KYW, Tarrant M. Breastfeeding duration and the theory of planned behavior and breastfeeding self-efficacy framework: A systematic review of observational studies. Matern Child Health J. 2018;22(3):327–42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-018-2453-x .
doi: 10.1007/s10995-018-2453-x
pubmed: 29427014
Santacruz-Salas E, Aranda-Reneo I, Segura-Fragoso A, Cobo-Cuenca AI, Laredo-Aguilera JA, Carmona-Torres JM. Mothers’ expectations and factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(1):3–5. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010077 .
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17010077
Arora S, McJunkin C, Wehrer J, Kuhn P. Major factors influencing breastfeeding rates: Mother’s perception of father’s attitude and milk supply. Pediatrics. 2000;106(5):e67. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.106.5.e67 .
doi: 10.1542/peds.106.5.e67
pubmed: 11061804
Oosterhoff A, Hutter I, Haisma H. It takes a mother to practise breastfeeding: Women’s perceptions of breastfeeding during the period of intention. Women Birth. 2014;27(4):e43-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2014.08.003 .
doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2014.08.003
pubmed: 25199453
Al-Sagarat AY, Yaghmour G, Moxham L. Intentions and barriers toward breastfeeding among Jordanian mothers—A cross sectional descriptive study using quantitative method. Women Birth J Aust Coll Midwives. 2017;30(4):e152–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2016.11.001 .
doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2016.11.001
Zhuang J, Bresnahan M, Zhu Y, Yan X, Bogdan-Lovis E, Goldbort J, et al. The impact of coworker support and stigma on breastfeeding after returning to work. J Appl Commun Res. 2018;46(4):491–508. https://doi.org/10.1080/00909882.2018.1498981 .
doi: 10.1080/00909882.2018.1498981
Vilar-Compte M, Hernández-Cordero S, Ancira-Moreno M, Burrola-Méndez S, Ferre-Eguiluz I, Omaña I, et al. Breastfeeding at the workplace: A systematic review of interventions to improve workplace environments to facilitate breastfeeding among working women. Int J Equity Health. 2021;20:110. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-021-01432-3 .
doi: 10.1186/s12939-021-01432-3
pubmed: 33926471
pmcid: 8082937
Tang X, Patterson P, MacKenzie-Shalders K, Van Herwerden LA, Bishop J, Rathbone E, et al. Workplace programmes for supporting breast-feeding: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Public Health Nutr. 2021;24(6):1501–13. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980020004012 .
doi: 10.1017/S1368980020004012
pubmed: 33050979
Tomori C, Hernández-Cordero S, Busath N, Menon P, Pérez-Escamilla R. What works to protect, promote and support breastfeeding on a large scale: A review of reviews. Matern Child Nutr. 2022;18(suppl 3):e13344. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13344 .
doi: 10.1111/mcn.13344
pubmed: 35315573
pmcid: 9113479
Lioret S, Harrar F, Boccia D, Hesketh KD, Kuswara K, Van Baaren C, et al. The effectiveness of interventions during the first 1,000 days to improve energy balance-related behaviors or prevent overweight/obesity in children from socio-economically disadvantaged families of high-income countries: A systematic review. Obes Rev. 2023;24(1):e13524. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13524 .
doi: 10.1111/obr.13524
pubmed: 36394375
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Employment: Length of maternity, parental and home care leave, and paid father-specific leave. Available from: https://stats.oecd.org/index.aspx?queryid=54760 . Accessed 1 Feb 2023.
Ciccia R, Verloo M. Parental leave regulations and the persistence of the male breadwinner model: Using fuzzy-set ideal type analysis to assess gender equality in an enlarged Europe. J Eur Soc Policy. 2012;22(5):507–28. https://doi.org/10.1177/0958928712456576 .
doi: 10.1177/0958928712456576
Galtry J. The impact on breastfeeding of labour market policy and practice in Ireland, Sweden, and the USA. Soc Sci Med. 2003;57(1):167–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(02)00372-6 .
doi: 10.1016/S0277-9536(02)00372-6
pubmed: 12753825
Grandahl M, Stern J, Funkquist EL. Longer shared parental leave is associated with longer duration of breastfeeding: A cross-sectional study among Swedish mothers and their partners. BMC Pediatr. 2020;20:159. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-020-02065-1 .
doi: 10.1186/s12887-020-02065-1
pubmed: 32290823
pmcid: 7155253
Tijdens KG, De Ruijter E, De Ruijter J. Comparing tasks of 160 occupations across eight European countries. Empl Relat. 2014;36(2):110–27. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-05-2013-0046 .
doi: 10.1108/ER-05-2013-0046
Lamberti LM, Fischer Walker CL, Noiman A, Victora C, Black RE. Breastfeeding and the risk for diarrhea morbidity and mortality. BMC Public Health. 2011;11(suppl 3):S15. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-S3-S15 .
doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-11-S3-S15
pubmed: 21501432
pmcid: 3231888
Brahm P, Valdés V. The benefits of breastfeeding and associated risks of replacement with baby formulas. Rev Chil Pediatría. 2017;88(1):7–14. https://doi.org/10.4067/s0370-41062017000100001 .
doi: 10.4067/s0370-41062017000100001