What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate how engagement in paid work influences infant feeding practices during the first six months of life among women in Africa and to identify support mechanisms that facilitate optimal infant feeding.

January 20, 2024Advances in NutritionOpen Access

Early Infant Feeding Practices among Women Engaged in Paid Work in Africa: A Systematic Scoping Review

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Authors

MMMelina MgongoKilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre SIScott IckesWilliam & Mary BLBeatrice J. LeyaroUniversity of Indonesia

Discussion

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Implication

Systematic scoping review reveals a consistent negative association between paid work and exclusive breastfeeding among African mothers, highlighting the urgent need for supportive workplace policies.

Key Points

To evaluate how engagement in paid work influences infant feeding practices during the first six months of life among women in Africa and to identify support mechanisms that facilitate optimal infant feeding.
Searched PubMed, Scopus, Global Health, and CINAHL Plus, screening 2,436 abstracts and charting 322 full-text articles using Covidence.
Identified 203 eligible articles, categorized into 47 studies focused on maternal work and breastfeeding (32 quantitative, 10 qualitative, 3 mixed-methods, 2 reviews) and 156 studies addressing maternal work as a secondary variable.
Most identified quantitative studies reported a statistically significant negative association between paid employment and rates of exclusive breastfeeding.
Qualitative studies identified three recurring operational domains: barriers to balancing work with infant feeding, sources of employer and family support, and feeding adaptation strategies during work hours.
Current recommendations emphasize policy reforms across worksites, health systems, and childcare facilities, though published evidence assessing implemented workplace interventions remains scarce.

Cite This Study

Mgongo et al. (2024) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69df0cceb8d7e94566614343 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advnut.2024.100179

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Early Infant Feeding Practices among Women Engaged in Paid Work in Africa: A Systematic Scoping Review

Discussion

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Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Early Infant Feeding Practices among Women Engaged in Paid Work in Africa: A Systematic Scoping Review

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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