The Influence of Working Conditions on the Continuation of Breastfeeding Among Mothers Attending Infant Welfare Clinic in Uniosun Teaching Hospital

Background: Breastfeeding is a centuries-old practice that has been the primary source of infant nutrition for much of human history. Work can be a barrier to breastfeeding for many women making it difficult to effectively continue breastfeeding after returning to work.Objectives: To assess the influence of workplace conditions on the continuation of breastfeeding among mothers attending infant welfare clinic in Uniosun teaching hospital.Methods: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used along with a structured questionnaire for the collection of data from one hundred and one (101) respondents.Results: Results showed that the level of knowledge on breastfeeding among respondents showed that majority 69(68.3%) had high knowledge, 31(30.7%) had moderate knowledge and 1(1.0%) had low knowledge on breastfeeding. Majority of the respondents 67(66.3%) had high breastfeeding practice and 34(33.7%) had low breastfeeding practice. The influence of working conditions on breastfeeding among the respondents stated that 12(11.9%) have breastfeeding or breast milk pumping place at workplace, 87(86.1%) breast feed their infant during the work time, 9(9.0%) have breastfeeding hours at work, 6(6.0%) have strict full-time schedule that did not make them freely use the nursing break and 34(33.7%) have work policies that disturb them from breastfeeding. Conclusion: Working conditions and breastfeeding are inter-related and this study showed that there is a significant association between working policies and the continuation of breastfeeding among the respondents.Keyword: breastfeeding, work, policies, workplaceWord count: 234