Breast-feeding pattern of health and nursing care providers

Abstract

Introduction: Breast milk is the most complete food for infants at the age of 4-6 months. Every mother has different interests and motivations for breast feeding (BF). Multiple factors affect BF patterns including education of the mother, employment of the mother, number of children, economic factors, and social and emotional supports. The objectives of this study were to determine BF pattern in health care providers and its relation with the difficulties in their working environment and also, with the difficulties in day care centers of the hospitals.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive analytic survey in 106 mothers who were employed as health and nursing care providers in 15 selected hospitals of Isfahan. Data gathering tool was a questionnaire that was filled out by interview. Data were analyzed by qualitative and descriptive analytic statistical methods.

Results: There was a significant correlation between the mental health of the mother and BF pattern in all age groups of the children. There was a significant correlation between excellent BF pattern and total scores of day care centers concerning facilities provided for comfort of  working mothers who breast feed their infants in day care.

Conclusions: Because of the significant correlation between mental health of the mothers and BF pattern, we suggest all the managers of mental health organizations and BF promoting associations use appropriate policies to provide a relaxing environment without any stress for all of the employed mothers.