Female Employees' Perception of Breastfeeding Support in the Workplace, Public Universities in Spain: A Multicentric Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND

Despite scientific recommendations for exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age and complementary breastfeeding to 2 years of age, breastfeeding abandonment rates increase with time, and one of the main reasons is that women go back to work.

AIM

To analyze the perception of support of breastfeeding workers to continue breastfeeding at two Spanish universities, and associated factors.

METHODS

A multicenter retrospective cross-sectional comparative study conducted in a population of 777 female workers at the Universidad de Sevilla (US) and the Universitat Jaume I (UJI) in Spain using an online questionnaire.

RESULTS

The response rate was 38.74% ( = 301). Of all the participants, 57.8% continued breastfeeding after returning to work. The factors associated with continuing breastfeeding for longer were the university having a breastfeeding support policy and special accommodation ( < 0.001); participating in breastfeeding support groups ( < 0.001); intending to continue breastfeeding after returning to work ( < 0.001); knowing the occupational legislation in force ( = 0.009); having a female supervisor ( = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Breastfeeding support initiatives and having special accommodation to pump and preserve breast milk after returning to work are associated with a longer duration of female workers' breastfeeding.