Working women, maternity entitlements, and breastfeeding: a report from Bangladesh

Early infant feeding practices and facilities available for supporting breastfeeding in workplaces in Dhaka, Bangladesh were studied through interviews with working women (n = 238) with children younger than 30 months of age. Of the women interviewed, 20 percent were aware of the benefits of, and had exclusively breastfed in the first month, 13 percent in the second month, and two percent in the fifth month of employment. The median age of starting complementary feeds was 41 days (range, 1-210) preparatory to resuming work. Total duration of breastfeeding was significantly shorter in mothers who had started these feeds before 41 days of age as compared to those who started later (mean +/- SD) 275 +/- 216 days versus 361 +/- 223 days (p = 0.003). Ninety-nine percent of the mothers were unaware of their maternity entitlements, and only 20 percent had taken breaks for breastfeeding, those breaks being treated as "unofficial." Working women should be informed through health personnel and communication media, about the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and about maternity entitlements. Provision of facilities to support breastfeeding in the workplace must also be encouraged so that maternal employment does not hamper breastfeeding.