Workplace Support and Breastfeeding Duration Among Registered Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Maternal and Child Health
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Breastfeeding offers numerous maternal and infant benefits, but employment often reduces its duration.
• Registered nurses (RNs), predominantly women of childbearing age, have limited data regarding workplace support for breastfeeding.
• Understanding workplace factors is crucial for supporting breastfeeding mothers in professional settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between workplace support and breastfeeding duration among registered nurses (RNs) in the United States.
• To identify specific domains of workplace support that influence breastfeeding continuation.
• To inform interventions aimed at enhancing breastfeeding support in nursing environments.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of survey data from 89 RNs.
• Linear regression used to assess the relationship between breastfeeding duration and levels of workplace support (low, moderate, high).
• Evaluated support across operational, managerial, coworker, time, and physical environment domains, plus an overall composite score.

Main Results:

• Overall high workplace support was linked to 4.7 months longer breastfeeding duration compared to low support.
• Physical environment support (e.g., equipment, storage, designated space) showed the largest significant positive difference.
• Operational support scored highest (69.7), while coworker and managerial support scored lowest (34.6 and 15.4).

Conclusions:

• Registered nurses often lack adequate workplace support, impacting their ability to meet personal breastfeeding goals.
• This lack of support can affect their role in promoting breastfeeding for other mothers.
• Comprehensive workplace support, encompassing policies, physical environments, and interpersonal factors, is essential for supporting RNs' breastfeeding journeys.