مؤسسة الشرق الأوسط للنشر العلمي
عادةً ما يتم الرد في غضون خمس دقائق
Abstract
Background: Maternal employment has been on the rise worldwide, and this rise is linked with breastfeeding (BF) practice. Returning to employment after childbirth reduces BF rates and exclusivity among working women. This dissertation focused on BF experiences among employed mothers. Aim: The central objective of this systematic review was to explore and investigate BF experiences among women who returned to work after childbirth. Method: A systematic review of available studies on BF experiences among employed mothers was performed based on inclusion criteria. Three databases, MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE, were searched, as well as Google Scholar for literature greying. The CASP and JBI Critical Appraisal checklists were used to appraise the selected studies. Moreover, the JBI QARI data extraction tool was used to extract the data, which were synthesized using thematic synthesis. Results: Of the 6,488 studies resulted, five were included in this review as relevant for answering questions regarding BF experiences among employed women. All the selected studies used qualitative descriptive methods. Appraisal showed that these five studies were of good quality. Four main themes were derived from the review: 1) women’s experiences regarding BF support (support for BF in the workplace, and family and social support for BF and working), 2) working women’s knowledge and attitudes regarding BF, 3) psychological challenges and 4) a strategic plan to maintain BF and work. Conclusion: Based on mothers’ experience, there is a perceived lack of support in the workplace; however, mothers also experienced great family and social support regarding BF during work. Provisions and policies for BF, including private rooms, pumping instruments, flexible work schedules and sufficient maternity leave, could help mothers maintain BF while working