scholarly journals Does extending the duration of legislated paid maternity leave improve breastfeeding practices? Evidence from 38 low-income and middle-income countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. e001032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Chai ◽  
Arijit Nandi ◽  
Jody Heymann
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽  
Maternity Leave ◽  
Early Initiation ◽  
Breastfeeding Duration ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Percentage Point Increase ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Point Increase ◽  
Initiation Of Breastfeeding

IntroductionAmong all barriers to breastfeeding, the need to work has been cited as one of the top reasons for not breastfeeding overall and for early weaning among mothers who seek to breastfeed. We aimed to examine whether extending the duration of paid maternity leave available to new mothers affected early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding under 6  months and breastfeeding duration in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).MethodsWe merged longitudinal data measuring national maternity leave policies with information on breastfeeding related to 992 419 live births occurring between 1996 and 2014 in 38 LMICs that participated in the Demographic and Health Surveys. We used a difference-in-differences approach to compare changes in the prevalence of early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding, as well as the duration of breastfeeding, among treated countries that lengthened their paid maternity leave policy between 1995 and 2013 versus control countries that did not. Regression models included country and year fixed effects, as well as measured individual-level, household-level and country-level covariates. All models incorporated robust SEs and respondent-level sampling weights.ResultsA 1-month increase in the legislated duration of paid maternity leave was associated with a 7.4 percentage point increase (95%  CI 3.2 to 11.7) in the prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding, a 5.9 percentage point increase (95%  CI 2.0 to 9.8) in the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and a 2.2- month increase (95%  CI 1.1 to 3.4) in breastfeeding duration.ConclusionExtending the duration of legislated paid maternity leave appears to promote breastfeeding practices in LMICs. Our findings suggest a potential mechanism to reduce barriers to breastfeeding for working mothers.

Effectiveness of Workplace Lactation Interventions on Breastfeeding Outcomes in the United States: An Updated Systematic Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia H. Kim ◽  
Jong C. Shin ◽  
Sharon M. Donovan
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽  
Maternity Leave ◽  
The United States ◽  
Breastfeeding Duration ◽  
Breastfeeding Initiation ◽  
White Ethnicity ◽  
Observational Study Design ◽  
The Impact

Background Returning to work is one of the main barriers to breastfeeding duration among working mothers in the United States. However, the impact of workplace lactation programs is unclear. Research Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of workplace lactation programs in the United States on breastfeeding practices. Methods A systematic search was conducted of seven databases through September 2017. Articles ( N = 10) meeting the inclusion criteria of describing a workplace lactation intervention and evaluation in the United States and measuring initiation, exclusivity, or duration using an experimental or observational study design were critically evaluated. Two reviewers conducted quality assessments and reviewed the full-text articles during the analysis. Results Common services provided were breast pumps, social support, lactation rooms, and breastfeeding classes. Breastfeeding initiation was very high, ranging from 87% to 98%. Several factors were significantly associated with duration of exclusive breastfeeding: (a) receiving a breast pump for one year (8.3 versus 4.7 months), (b) return-to-work consultations (40% versus 17% at 6 months), and (c) telephone support (42% versus 15% at 6 months). Each additional service (except prenatal education) dose-dependently increased exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months. Sociodemographic information including older maternal age, working part-time, longer maternity leave, and white ethnicity were associated with longer breastfeeding duration. Conclusion Workplace lactation interventions increased breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusive breastfeeding, with greater changes observed with more available services. More evidence is needed on the impact of workplace support in low-income populations, and the cost-effectiveness of these programs in reducing health care costs.

scholarly journals Exclusive Breastfeeding Practice in Indonesia: A Population-Based Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 395-402
Author(s):  
Maria Gayatri
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Early Initiation ◽  
Maternal Health Service ◽  
Normal Vaginal Delivery ◽  
Early Initiation Of Breastfeeding ◽  
Early Postpartum ◽  
Initiation Of Breastfeeding

Background: It is a well-known fact that exclusive breastfeeding benefits both mothers and their babies. The aim of this study is to assess the associated factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding of babies until 6 months of age. Methods: The study used data from the 2017 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey. Overall, 1,542 women who had infants aged below 6 months were included in the study. Sociodemographic and maternal health service utilization factors were examined for association with exclusive breastfeeding, using logistic regression for a complex sample design. Results: The proportion of exclusive breastfeeding was 52.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.498–0.548). Parity, antenatal care visits, early initiation of breastfeeding, low-income households, and rural areas were significant factors associated with the increased likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding. However, working status (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.70; 95% CI, 0.57–0.86) and caesarean delivery or C-section (aOR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.57–0.99) were factors for a lower likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusion: Working women are at risk of discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding. Mothers who had a normal vaginal delivery and practiced early initiation of breastfeeding had a higher rate of exclusive breastfeeding. These findings have important implications for developing comprehensive guidance and resources for women regarding the importance of exclusive breastfeeding during the early postpartum period.

scholarly journals Determinants of optimum exclusive breastfeeding duration in rural India: a mixed method approach using cohort and content analysis design

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Falguni Debnath ◽  
Nilanjan Mondal ◽  
Alok Kumar Deb ◽  
Debjit Chakraborty ◽  
Subhrangshu Chakraborty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Family Environment ◽  
Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Early Initiation ◽  
Breastfeeding Duration ◽  
Healthcare Delivery System ◽  
Early Initiation Of Breastfeeding ◽  
Breastfeeding Rate ◽  
Initiation Of Breastfeeding

Abstract Background Despite established benefits, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rate remains poor in India. This study measured the rate of early initiation of breastfeeding and EBF up to 42 days postpartum period and the reasons associated with early interruption of it. Methods In this study we followed a cohort 319 mother-newborn dyads, on a scheduled day of each week for six postpartum weeks (42 postpartum days), during May 2017 – March 2019. We used standard maternal 24 h recall method to collect data on newborn feeding practices. Additionally, using content the analysis method, we analysed the data captured through open ended question on current breastfeeding practice and reasons to identify the sociocultural facilitators/barriers of exclusive breastfeeding . Results Of the retained 306 newborns, early initiation of breastfeeding rate was 60% (184/306), whereas, EBF rate was 47% (143/306). Mothers’ educational level did not emerge as a risk for unsuccessful breastfeeding practices, whereas, father being not the major earner of the family (Relative risk [RR] 2.4; 95% Confidence interval [CI] 1.7,3.3), mothers who did not believe that effect of breastfeeding is longstanding (RR 1.8; 95% CI 1.3, 2.1) emerged as a risk for unsuccessful EBF practices. Lack of self-conviction about EBF among mothers; significant family members’ influence; cultural beliefs; emerged as major socio-environmental barriers of early interruption of exclusive breastfeeding. Repeated counselling by the healthcare provider particularly focusing on exclusive breastfeeding, supportive family environment in terms of the elders being aware of the positive health outcomes of it, and prior positive experience emerged as the socio-environmental facilitators for successful EBF until 42 postpartum days. Conclusions We conclude that the socio-environmental causes need to be addressed through the present healthcare delivery system for ensuring better infant feeding outcome.

scholarly journals The Non-Linear Relationship Between Fiscal Deficits And Inflation: Evidence From Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-112
Author(s):  
Nurudeen Abu ◽  
Mohd Zaini Abd Karim
Keyword(s):  
Linear Relationship ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Percentage Point Increase ◽  
Point Increase ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
High Inflation

AbstractAlthough, there is abundant research on the fiscal deficit-inflation relationship, little has been done to investigate the non-linear association between them, particularly in Africa. This study employs fixed-effects and GMM estimators to examine the non-linear relationship between deficits and inflation from 1999 to 2011 in 51 African economies, which are further grouped into high-inflation/low-income countries and moderate-inflation/middle-income countries. The results indicate that the deficit-inflation relationship is non-linear for the whole sample and sub-groups. For the whole sample, a percentage point increase in deficit results in a 0.25 percentage point increase in inflation rate, while the relationship becomes quantitatively greater once deficits reach 23% of GDP. The subsamples report different relationships. Although our results cannot be used as the base for generalization, we identify importance of grouping African countries according to their levels of inflation and/or income, rather than treating them as a homogeneous entity.

scholarly journals The effect of paid maternity leave on early childhood growth in low-income and middle-income countries

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. e000294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepa Jahagirdar ◽  
Sam Harper ◽  
Jody Heymann ◽  
Hema Swaminathan ◽  
Arnab Mukherji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Maternity Leave ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Childhood Growth ◽  
Middle Income Countries

scholarly journals Association of increased duration of legislated paid maternity leave with childhood diarrhoea prevalence in low-income and middle-income countries: difference-in-differences analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 437-444
Author(s):  
Yan Chai ◽  
Arijit Nandi ◽  
Jody Heymann
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Maternity Leave ◽  
Bloody Diarrhoea ◽  
Difference In Differences ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Childhood Diarrhoea ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Leave Policy ◽  
Maternity Leave Policy ◽  
Children Under 5

BackgroundDiarrhoea is the second-leading infectious cause of death in children younger than age 5 years. The global burden of severe diarrhoeal disease is concentrated in Africa and Southeast Asia, where a significant percentage of the population resides in low-resource settings. We aimed to quantitatively examine whether extending the duration of legislated paid maternity leave affected the prevalence of childhood diarrhoea in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).MethodsWe merged longitudinal data measuring national maternity leave policies with information on the prevalence of bloody diarrhoea related to 884 517 live births occurring between 1996 and 2014 in 40 LMICs that participated at least twice in the Demographic and Health Surveys between 2000 and 2015. We used a difference-in-differences approach to compare changes in the percentage of children with bloody diarrhoea across eight countries that lengthened their paid maternity leave policy between 1995 and 2013 to the 32 countries that did not.ResultsThe prevalence of bloody diarrhoea in the past 2 weeks was 168 (SD=40) per 10 000 children under 5 years in countries that changed their policies and 136 (SD=15) in countries that did not. A 1-month increase in the legislated duration of paid maternity leave was associated with 61 fewer cases of bloody diarrhoea (95% CI −98.86 to −22.86) per 10 000 children under 5 years of age, representing a 36% relative reduction.ConclusionExtending the duration of paid maternity leave policy appears to reduce the prevalence of bloody diarrhoea in children under 5 years of age in LMICs.

scholarly journals Exposure to sewage from on-site sanitation and child health: a spatial analysis of linkages and externalities in peri-urban Bolivia

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonella Bancalari ◽  
Sebastian Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Analysis ◽  
Relative Increase ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Percentage Point Increase ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Independent Verification ◽  
Point Increase ◽  
Diarrhea Incidence ◽  
Persuasive Argument ◽  
Sanitation Infrastructure

Abstract Exposure to fecal contamination is a leading cause of childhood infectious diseases in low- and middle-income countries. Low-quality sanitation infrastructure and inadequate maintenance can make on-site solutions prone to spillage, exposing children to sewage. This paper uses a unique dataset with independent verification of sewage in and around the parcels of more than 20,000 houses with on-site sanitation in peri-urban Bolivia. We analyze the relationship between exposure to sewage from overflowed sanitation infrastructure and the incidence of diarrhea in children under age five. The presence of sewage is associated with a 4 percentage point increase in the probability of diarrhea incidence – a relative increase of 22%. This relationship is driven by sewage within the boundaries of the property where the child resides, which is associated with a relative increase of 30% in the probability of the incidence of diarrhea. Our spatial analysis of sewage density shows that the probability of the incidence of diarrhea increases with the concentration of sewage in the immediate vicinity of the child's residence, suggesting negative spillovers from neighbors with overflowed on-site sanitation facilities. These potential negative health externalities provide a persuasive argument in favor of public interventions that adequately remove and treat fecal sludge.

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