Title: Juggling Work and Motherhood: The Impact of Employment and Maternity Leave on Breastfeading Duration: A Survival Analysis on Growing Up in Scotland Data
Authors: Skafida, Valeria
Abstract: Abstract In 2005, Scotland became the first nation to make breastfeeding in public a legal right, but current breastfeeding targets and maternity leave allowance do not
acknowledge the conflicting demands women face when juggling employment and otherhood. This paper explores how employment and maternity leave relate to breastfeeding
duration among mothers in Scotland. The Growing Up in Scotland national longitudinal cohort study of 5,217 babies born in 2004–2005 was used. Multivariate proportional
hazards regression models were specified using one cross-sectional wave of data to predict breastfeeding duration. Mothers working as employees, full-time (Hazard
Ratio 1.6) or part-time (HR1.3), had a higher risk of earlier breastfeeding cessation than non-working mothers. However,
self-employed mothers did not differ significantly from non-working mothers in their breastfeeding patterns. Mothers who took longer maternity leave breastfed for
longer. The relationships between employment, maternity leave and breastfeeding duration were significant when
controlling for known predictors of breastfeeding. Younger mothers, those with less formal education, single mothers,
those of white ethnic background, and first-time mothers were more likely to stop breastfeeding sooner, as has been
noted in previous research. Employment and early return to work are both factors associated with a shorter duration of
breastfeeding. More flexible working conditions and more generous employment leave could help to prolong breastfeeding
among working mothers. Current health and
employment policy in Scotland and the UK could be better coordinated so that working mothers have the adequate support to meet the conflicting demands of employment
and motherhood.
↧