Public policy on breastfeeding among working mothers in Taiwan: comparison between two national surveys

Abstract

Background: Creating a supportive breastfeeding environment after childbirth and enabling women to work with reassurance are essential in maternal care services. The study aimed to explore the effectiveness of the utilization rate of public and workplace lactation rooms in relation to the breastfeeding rate among postpartum women returning to work in Taiwan.

Methods: The study involved a secondary data analysis on 6,992 and 7,350 postpartum women surveyed in 2011 and 2016, respectively. Interviews were conducted with women six months postpartum. Logistic regression analysis was employed to calculate the odds ratio and investigate the differences in the utilization rates of public lactation rooms (PLR) and workplace lactation rooms (WLR) among working mothers over a five-year period, to confirm the effectiveness of public strategies.

Results: Comparing the years 2011 and 2016, significant differences in the rates of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and any breastfeeding (ABF) among working mothers returning to work after an 8-week maternity leave, depending on whether they used PLR or WLR. The rates were higher in 2016 than in 2011. For mothers who used PLR, the breastfeeding rates for EBF at the second, fourth, and sixth months (2011 vs. 2016: 67.6% vs. 81.1%, 75.0% vs. 86.4%, 77.5% vs. 86.2%) and ABF at the second, fourth, and sixth months (2011 vs. 2016: 60.3% vs. 73.9%, 68.8% vs. 81.3%, 73.7% vs. 85.6%). For mothers who used WLR, the breastfeeding rates for EBF at the second, fourth, and sixth months (2011 vs. 2016: 51.3% vs. 58.7%, 54.7% vs. 61.4%, 57.5% vs. 59.3%) and ABF at the second, fourth, and sixth months (2011 vs. 2016: 48.4% vs. 57.0%, 52.3% vs. 60.5%, 54.1% vs. 62.4%). When comparing 2011 to 2016 from the second to the sixth month postpartum, adjusted odds ratios for EBF (PLR: 4.17-5.23 vs. 4.06-6.22, WLR: 1.71-1.83 vs. 1.30-1.61) and ABF (PLR: 6.44-7.02 vs. 9.27-9.90, WLR: 1.91-1.98 vs. 1.97-1.99) showed differences.

Conclusion: Lactation support rooms play a vital role in motivating working mothers to sustain breastfeeding upon their return to work. Incentivizing businesses to build additional lactation rooms and offering breastfeeding resources is essential in striving to enhance the global breastfeeding rate.

Keywords: Breastfeeding; Lactation room; Returning to work; Working mothers.