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Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding Practices among Working Women with 6 Months of paid Maternity Leave in a Municipal Zone of South West Delhi

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: There is a lack of data from India on the effect of paid maternity leave under the Maternity Benefit Amendment Act (2017) on infant feeding practices. The aim was to find out the infant feeding practices among the working mothers who had availed 6 months of maternity leave. Cross-sectional study among women teachers of primary schools of Najafgarh Zone, Municipal Corporation of Delhi. A school-based survey of 100 women teachers who had a child aged 6 months to 2 years and who had availed maternity leave was conducted using a prevalidated interview schedule. Descriptive statistics such as proportion was used to find out the various infant feeding factors among the working mothers. Around one-third (34%, 95% CI 24.7-43.3) of the working mothers who availed 6 months of maternity leave practiced 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding, with those residing nearer (within 2 km) to the workplace showing significantly higher breastfeeding rates. Exclusive breastfeeding rates for 6 months were found to be low among working women who had availed maternity leave.

Source: Indian Journal of Community Medicine

DOI: 10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_412_24

Authors: Karuna Arya, Khan A. Maroof, Madhu K. Upadhyay, Dheeraj Shah

Institutions: University College of Medical Sciences, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, University of Delhi, National Institute of Health and Family Welfare

Language: English

Topic: Breastfeeding Practices and Influences

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Decent work and economic growth, Gender equality, Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $80