Abstract
Objective To identify work-related predictors of breastfeeding duration among female physicians. Study design Data on 238 children were obtained from 50 female physicians, whose main affiliation was with Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD), and 80 female physicians, whose main affiliation was with the University of Florida (Gainesville, FL). We used a mixed linear model to determine which variables were significant predictors of breastfeeding duration when controlling for maternal demographics and taking into account the clustering of observations on study location and mothers. Results Although female physicians intended to breastfeed 56% of the infants for at least 12 months and 97% of infants were breastfed at birth, only 34% of infants continued to receive breast milk at 12 months. Duration of lactation among female physicians correlated with the following work-related factors: (1) not having to make up missed call/work that occurred as result of pregnancy or maternity leave; (2) longer length of maternity leave; (3) sufficiency of time at work for milk expression; and (4) perceived level of support for breastfeeding efforts at work from colleagues, program director, or division/section chiefs. Conclusion Our findings support the importance of work-related factors in breastfeeding maintenance among female physicians and suggest that a tailored intervention, providing time and institutional encouragement, might result in significant improvement in their breastfeeding duration.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1612-1617 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Pediatrics |
| Volume | 163 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 2013 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Cite this
Work-place predictors of duration of breastfeeding among female physicians. / Sattari, Maryam; Serwint, Janet Rose; Neal, Dan; Chen, Si; Levine, David.
In: Journal of Pediatrics, Vol. 163, No. 6, 12.2013, p. 1612-1617.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Work-place predictors of duration of breastfeeding among female physicians
AU - Sattari, Maryam
AU - Serwint, Janet Rose
AU - Neal, Dan
AU - Chen, Si
AU - Levine, David
PY - 2013/12
Y1 - 2013/12
N2 - Objective To identify work-related predictors of breastfeeding duration among female physicians. Study design Data on 238 children were obtained from 50 female physicians, whose main affiliation was with Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD), and 80 female physicians, whose main affiliation was with the University of Florida (Gainesville, FL). We used a mixed linear model to determine which variables were significant predictors of breastfeeding duration when controlling for maternal demographics and taking into account the clustering of observations on study location and mothers. Results Although female physicians intended to breastfeed 56% of the infants for at least 12 months and 97% of infants were breastfed at birth, only 34% of infants continued to receive breast milk at 12 months. Duration of lactation among female physicians correlated with the following work-related factors: (1) not having to make up missed call/work that occurred as result of pregnancy or maternity leave; (2) longer length of maternity leave; (3) sufficiency of time at work for milk expression; and (4) perceived level of support for breastfeeding efforts at work from colleagues, program director, or division/section chiefs. Conclusion Our findings support the importance of work-related factors in breastfeeding maintenance among female physicians and suggest that a tailored intervention, providing time and institutional encouragement, might result in significant improvement in their breastfeeding duration.
AB - Objective To identify work-related predictors of breastfeeding duration among female physicians. Study design Data on 238 children were obtained from 50 female physicians, whose main affiliation was with Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD), and 80 female physicians, whose main affiliation was with the University of Florida (Gainesville, FL). We used a mixed linear model to determine which variables were significant predictors of breastfeeding duration when controlling for maternal demographics and taking into account the clustering of observations on study location and mothers. Results Although female physicians intended to breastfeed 56% of the infants for at least 12 months and 97% of infants were breastfed at birth, only 34% of infants continued to receive breast milk at 12 months. Duration of lactation among female physicians correlated with the following work-related factors: (1) not having to make up missed call/work that occurred as result of pregnancy or maternity leave; (2) longer length of maternity leave; (3) sufficiency of time at work for milk expression; and (4) perceived level of support for breastfeeding efforts at work from colleagues, program director, or division/section chiefs. Conclusion Our findings support the importance of work-related factors in breastfeeding maintenance among female physicians and suggest that a tailored intervention, providing time and institutional encouragement, might result in significant improvement in their breastfeeding duration.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84888365929&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84888365929&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpeds.2013.07.026
DO - 10.1016/j.jpeds.2013.07.026
M3 - Article
C2 - 24011764
AN - SCOPUS:84888365929
VL - 163
SP - 1612
EP - 1617
JO - Journal of Pediatrics
JF - Journal of Pediatrics
SN - 0022-3476
IS - 6
ER -