Behavior Outcomes of Breastfeeding-Friendly Policies Among Thai Mothers Working in a Factory: A Descriptive Study

Authors

  • Aimon Butudom PhD, MSN, RN, Boromarajonani College of Nursing Khon Kaen, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
  • Barbara L. McFarlin PhD, CNM, RDMS, FACNM, FAAN, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
  • Carrie S. Klima PhD, CNM, FACNM, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
  • Diane L. Spatz PhD, RN-BC, FAAN, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
  • Joan F. Kennelly PhD, MPH, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
  • Linda L. McCreary PhD, RN, FAAN, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
  • Crystal L. Patil PhD , College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
  • Mary Dawn Koenig PhD, RN, CNM, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Keywords:

Breastfeeding-friendly policy, Breastfeeding discontinuation, Exclusive breastfeeding, Workplace support, Working women

Abstract

                The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in Thailand is the lowest in all of Asia. This study aimed to examine if breastfeeding-friendly policies in a factory influenced breastfeeding behaviors among Thai working mothers. Descriptive data was collected from 216 eligible factory-working mothers of children aged 6-12 months. Data collected included the Demographic Characteristic Questionnaire and the Breastfeeding in the Workplace Survey. Questions included: awareness of factory breastfeeding-friendly policies, breastfeeding behaviors, pumping in the workplace, social support for breastfeeding behaviors during work. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. The majority of mothers (93.1%) intended to breastfeed with 93.1% also reporting shift work. Most of them rated the factory’s support as excellent and very good. The rate of exclusive breastfeeding declined from 76.9% at one month to 46.3% at three months, then sharply dropped to 16.2% at four months and 7.4% at six months. Reasons for breastfeeding discontinuation included: maternal report of insufficient milk (36%), infant sent to live with grandmother in other areas (31%), and returning to work (12%).
           Breastfeeding-friendly policies in factories could improve breastfeeding rates during first three months. However, working mothers may need continued information and resources such as why continued breastfeeding is important, how to maintain sufficient milk supply, on-site child care facilities, and managing family life. Occupational health nurses could provide onsite breastfeeding training and/or intervention programs to improve exclusivity and duration of breastfeeding, instructions on use of breast pumps, and lactation support programs in the workplace, especially for women who work shifts.

References

Ahlqvist‐Björkroth S, Vaarno J, Junttila N, Pajulo M, Räihä H, Niinikoski H, et al. Initiation and exclusivity of breastfeeding: association with mothers' and fathers' prenatal and postnatal depression and marital distress. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2016; 95(4): 396-404. doi:10.1111/aogs.12857.

Victora CG, Bahl R, Barros AJ, França GV, Horton S, Krasevec J, et al. Breastfeeding in the 21st century:

epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. Lancet. 2016; 387(10017): 475-90. doi:10.1016/S0140-

(15)01024-7.

Rollins NC, Bhandari N, Hajeebhoy N, Horton S, Lutter CK, Martines JC, et al. Why invest, and what it will take to improve breastfeeding practices?. Lancet. 2016;387(10017):491-504.doi:10.1016/S0140-6736

(15)01044-2.

World Health Organization. EBF to reduce the risk of childhood overweight and obesity.2014. [cited 2018

March 3]. Available from: http://www.who.int/elena/titles/breastfeeding_childhood_obesity/en/

Thepha, T, Marais D, Bell J, Muangpin S. Facilitators and barriers to EBF in Thailand: a narrative review. J Comm Pub Health Nurs. 2017; 3:160. doi:10.4172/2471-9846.1000160.

Bjorkroth, SA, Vaarno J, Junttila N, Pajulo M, Raiha H, Niinikoski H, et al. Initiation and exclusivity of breastfeeding: association with mothers’ and fathers’ prenatal and postnatal depression and marital distress. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinaviaca. 2016; 95: 396-404. doi:10.1111/aogs.12857.

World Health Organization. Breastfeeding. 2018. [cited 2020 July 16]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/facts-in-pictures/detail/breastfeeding

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Breastfeeding report card. 2018. [cited 2020 July 16]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/pdf/2018breastfeedingreportcard.pdf

World Health Organization EBF under 6 months: Data by WHO region. 2014. [cited 2020 July 16]. Available from:https://apps.who.int/gho/data/view.main.NUT1730?lang=en

World Health Organization. EBF under 6 months: Data by country. 2019. [cited 2020 July 16]. Available from: https://apps.who.int/gho/data/view.main.NUT1730?lang=en

Phongsavath, K. Improvement in EBF in Lao PDR: role of communication. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2014; 45(Suppl 1): 129-31.

Department of Health Thailand. Annual report 2005. [cited2020 July 16]. Available from: https://www.dh.gov.hk/english/pub_rec/pub_rec_ar/pub_rec_arpis_0506_html.html

National Statistical Office Thailand, MOPH, UNFPA. Thailand reproductive health survey 2009. [cited 2020 July 16]. Available from: http://ghdx.healthdata.org/record/thailand-reproductive-health-survey-2009

National Statistical Office Thailand, UNICEF, MOPH, NHSO, THPF, IHPP (2013) Multiple indicator cluster survey: MICS4, Thailand.

National Statistical Office Thailand, National Health Security Office, and UNICEF. Monitoring the situation of children and women. Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2015-2016. [cited 2020 July 16]. Available from: https://www.unicef.org/thailand/sites/unicef.org.thailand/files/2018-06/Thailand_MICS_Full_Report_EN_0.pdf

Youngwanichsetha S. Factors related to EBF among postpartum Thai women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus. J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2013; 31(2):208-17. doi:10.1080/02646838.2012.755733.

Yimyam S, Hanpa W. Developing a workplace breast feeding support model for employed lactating mothers. Midwifery. 2014; 30(6): 720-4. doi:10.1016/j.midw.2014.01.007.

Tangsuksan P, Ratinthorn A, Sindhu S, Spatz DL, Viwatwongkasem C. Factors Influencing EBF among Urban Employed Mothers: A Case-Control Study. Pacific Rim Int J Nurs Res. 2020;24(1): 54-72.

The World Bank. Labor force participation rate, female. 2019. [cited 2020 July 17]. Available from: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS?locations=TH

Thai Breastfeeding Center Foundation. Working mothers with breastfeeding. 2016. [cited 2018 January 25]. Available from: http://www.thaibreastfeeding.org/articles. php?mode=content&id=25

National Statistical Office. Women labor force. 2012. [cited 2018 January 30]. Available from: http://service.nso.go.th/nso/web/article/article_64.html

National Statistical Office Thailand. Summary of the labor force survey in Thailand: March 2020. 2020. [cited 2020 July 16]. Available from: http://www.nso.go.th/sites/2014en/Survey/social/labour/LaborForce/2020/march_2020.pdf

Thussanasupap B, Lapvongwatana P, Kalampakorn S, Spatz DL. Effects of the Community-Based Breastfeeding Promotion Program for Working Mothers: A Quasi-experimental Study. Pacific Rim Int J Nurs Res. 2016; 20(3): 196-209.

Tamdee, P. When mothers return to work: the dilemma for working mothers in breastfeeding. Journal of Social Development. 2019; 21(1): 77-93.

UNICEF Thailand. Partners launch “powdered milk = risk” campaign. 2014. [cited 2018 March 12]. Available from: http://www.unicef.org/thailand/media_22905.html

UNICEF Thailand. Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). 2012. [cited 2018 February 19]. Available from: http://www.unicef.org/thailand/57-05-011-MICS_EN.pdf

Plewma P. Prevalence and factors influencing exclusive breast-feeding in Rajavithi Hospital. J Med Assoc Thai. 2013; 96 (Suppl 3): S94-9.

National Statistical Office. Summary of the labor force survey in Thailand: September 2016. 2016. [cited 2018 January 20]. Available from: http://web.nso.go.th/en/survey/data_survey/281059_summary_September2016.pdf

McLeroy KR, Bibeau D, Steckler A, Glanz K. An ecological perspective on health promotion programs. Health Educ Q. 1988; 15(4): 351-77. doi:10.1177/109019818801500401.

Chen YC, Wu YC, Chie WC. Effects of work-related factors on the breastfeeding behavior of working mothers in a Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer: a crosssectional survey. BMC Public Health. 2006; 6(1):160.doi:10.1186/1471-2458-6-160.

Spatz DL, Kim GS, Froh EB. Outcomes of a hospital-based employee lactation program. Breastfeed Med. 2014;9(10): 510-4. doi:10.1089/bfm.2014.0058.

SPSS. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (Version24). 2016. [cited 2018 February 9]. Available from: http://www 01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg24041224

Ministry of Labour. Minimum wage: 2017. [cited 2018 March 25]. Available from:http://www.mol.go.th/en/employee/interesting_information/6319

Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. Thailand monitoring the situation of children and women. 2012. [cited 2018 January 18]. Available from: https://www.unicef.org/thailand/57-05-011-MICS_EN.pdf

International Labour Organization. Maternity protection convention: 183. 2000. [cited 2018 February 9]. Available from: http://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:12100:0::NO::P12100_ILO_CODE:C183

Department of Labour Protection and Welfare. Employee’s concerned. 2016. [cited 2018 February 22]. Available from: http://www.labour.go.th/en/index.php/work-rule-submission

Vietnam Law & Legal Forum. Maternity leave, allowance in Vietnam. 2016. [cited 2018 March 10]. Available from: http://vietnamlawmagazine.vn/maternity-leave-allowance-invietnam-4827.html

UNICEF. At a glance: Vietnam. (2013). [cited 2018 March 15]. Available from: https://www.unicef.org/

infobycountry/vietnam_statistics.html

Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. Vietnam monitoring the situation of children and women. 2014. [cited 2018 March 17]. Available from: https://mics-surveysprod.s3. amazonaws.com/MICS5/East%20Asia%20and%20the%20Pacific/Viet%20Nam/2013-2014/Final/

Viet%20Nam%202013-14%20MICS_English.pdf

Bootsri W, Taneepanichskul S. Effectiveness of experiential learning with empowerment strategies and social support from grandmothers on breastfeeding among Thai adolescent mothers. Int Breastfeed J. 2017; 12(1): 37. doi:10.1186/s13006-017-0128-7.

Downloads

Published

2020-12-07

How to Cite

1.
Butudom A, Barbara L. McFarlin, Carrie S. Klima, Diane L. Spatz, Joan F. Kennelly, Linda L. McCreary, Crystal L. Patil, Mary Dawn Koenig. Behavior Outcomes of Breastfeeding-Friendly Policies Among Thai Mothers Working in a Factory: A Descriptive Study. PRIJNR [Internet]. 2020 Dec. 7 [cited 2024 Apr. 26];25(1):87-101. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/PRIJNR/article/view/240651

Issue

Vol. 25 No. 1 (2021): January-March, 2021

Section

Original paper

License

Copyright: The Pacific Rim International Journal of Nursing Research, Thailand Nursing & Midwifery Council has exclusive rights to publish, reproduce and distribute the manuscript and all contents therein.