TY - JOUR
T1 - Physician Mothers and Breastfeeding
T2 - A Cross-Sectional Survey
AU - Sattari, Maryam
AU - Levine, David M.
AU - Mramba, Lazarus K.
AU - Pina, Monica
AU - Raukas, Reet
AU - Rouw, Elien
AU - Serwint, Janet R.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was partially supported by the NIH grant no. 1UL1TR000064 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences and by the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, NIH grant no. 1UL1RR029890.
Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright 2020, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
PY - 2020/5/1
Y1 - 2020/5/1
N2 - Objectives: To explore infant-feeding intentions and behavior of physician mothers as well as their breastfeeding enablers and obstacles. Study Design: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among female physicians with at least one biological child recruited through the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. The main outcomes were duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and duration of any breastfeeding (BFD). We determined predictors of EBF and BFD. Results: The 570 participants reported intention to breastfeed at least 12 months in 78.1% of cases. Breastfeeding rates were 97.8%, 85.5%, and 55.4% at birth, 6, and 12 months. EBF rates were 88.5%, 76.3%, and 40.9% at birth, 3, and 6 months. Younger participant age, breastfeeding discontinuation not due to work-related demands, and heightened maternal satisfaction with BFD were associated with longer EBF and BFD. EBF at birth, less maternal stress, availability of time to express milk, and collegial support were associated with longer EBF. Longer maternal BFD goal, longer maternity leave, existence of laws or regulations to support breastfeeding among working mothers, later child order, and lower level of maternal depression were associated with longer BFD. Conclusions: Maternal infant-feeding intentions and work-related factors both play important roles in physician mothers' infant-feeding behavior. Longer maternity leave, regulations to support breastfeeding among working mothers, and workplace support might significantly improve physician mothers' BFD.
AB - Objectives: To explore infant-feeding intentions and behavior of physician mothers as well as their breastfeeding enablers and obstacles. Study Design: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among female physicians with at least one biological child recruited through the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. The main outcomes were duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and duration of any breastfeeding (BFD). We determined predictors of EBF and BFD. Results: The 570 participants reported intention to breastfeed at least 12 months in 78.1% of cases. Breastfeeding rates were 97.8%, 85.5%, and 55.4% at birth, 6, and 12 months. EBF rates were 88.5%, 76.3%, and 40.9% at birth, 3, and 6 months. Younger participant age, breastfeeding discontinuation not due to work-related demands, and heightened maternal satisfaction with BFD were associated with longer EBF and BFD. EBF at birth, less maternal stress, availability of time to express milk, and collegial support were associated with longer EBF. Longer maternal BFD goal, longer maternity leave, existence of laws or regulations to support breastfeeding among working mothers, later child order, and lower level of maternal depression were associated with longer BFD. Conclusions: Maternal infant-feeding intentions and work-related factors both play important roles in physician mothers' infant-feeding behavior. Longer maternity leave, regulations to support breastfeeding among working mothers, and workplace support might significantly improve physician mothers' BFD.
KW - breastfeeding duration
KW - exclusive breastfeeding
KW - infant-feeding intention
KW - physician mothers
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U2 - 10.1089/bfm.2019.0193
DO - 10.1089/bfm.2019.0193
M3 - Review article
C2 - 32182122
AN - SCOPUS:85084693864
SN - 1556-8253
VL - 15
SP - 312
EP - 320
JO - Breastfeeding Medicine
JF - Breastfeeding Medicine
IS - 5
ER -