Breastfeeding Practices and Their Association with Employment Status Among Working Mothers Attending a DHQ Hospital in Mirpur Khas: A Cross-Sectional Study: Breastfeeding Practices and Association with Employment Status Among Working Mothers

Mudassara Kiran; Hussan Bano Channar; Irfan Ali Chandio; Irfana Channa; Rehana Bashir; Diyal Chand Sharma; Aisha Memon

doi:10.54393/pbmj.v9i3.1361

Authors

Mudassara Kiran People’s Nursing School, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Science, Jamshoro, Pakistan
Hussan Bano Channar People’s Nursing School, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Science, Jamshoro, Pakistan
Irfan Ali Chandio College of Nursing Female, Mirpurkhas, Pakistan
Irfana Channa People’s Nursing School, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Science, Jamshoro, Pakistan
Rehana Bashir People’s Nursing School, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Science, Jamshoro, Pakistan
Diyal Chand Sharma People’s Nursing School, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Science, Jamshoro, Pakistan
Aisha Memon People’s Nursing School, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Science, Jamshoro, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pbmj.v9i3.1361

Keywords:

Breastfeeding, Working Mothers, Maternal Employment, Workplace Environment

Abstract

Breastfeeding is essential for maternal and child health and plays a key role in improving infant nutrition and immunity. However, working mothers often face workplace-related barriers that limit optimal breastfeeding practices, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Pakistan. Objective: To evaluate breastfeeding practices among working mothers attending DHQ Hospital, Mirpur Khas, and to determine the association of employment status with breastfeeding practices. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 110 working mothers visiting DHQ Hospital Mirpurkhas. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics and breastfeeding patterns. Inferential statistics, including chi-square tests and logistic regression, were used to analyze relationships among variables and to identify predictors of breastfeeding. Results: Most of the participants (70%) were in the age range of 26 to 35 years old and most of the participants (68.2%) had undergraduate education. A high proportion of mothers (83.6%) reported breastfeeding. The chi- square analysis did not reveal any statistically significant association between employment status and breastfeeding (p=0.115). Logistic regression, however, indicated full-time employment was significantly associated with lower odds of breastfeeding (OR = 0.25, p=0.045), suggesting that full-time working mothers were less likely to breastfeed. Conclusions: Breastfeeding was commonly practiced by working mothers however, many mothers were unable to follow exclusive breastfeeding recommendations because complementary foods were early and workplace support was limited. Improving workplace policies and providing better breastfeeding services could help mothers to improve breastfeeding practices.

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