The influence of a wide variety of factors on infants' feeding patterns has frequently been reported. Of Growing interest is the role played by economic issues in determining the duration of breast feeding. The present study describes the attitudes toward, beliefs about, and practices in relation to working while breast feeding amongst 200 ‘Coloured’ (of mixed ethnic origin) women. Breast feeding rates are initially high but drop rapidly about the time mothers return to work. Approximately two-thirds of the women studied returned to work in the post partum period. Most report that breast feeding and working are incompatible.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AkinJ.BilsborrowR.GuilkeyD.PopkinB. M.BenoitD.CantrelleP.GarenneM.LeviP. (1981) The determinants of breast feeding in Sri Lanka. Demography, 18, 287–307.
2.
BrownleeK. A. (1965) Statistical theory and methodology in science and engineering. New York: Wiley.
3.
ChalmersB.RansomeO. J.HermanA. (1987) Psychosocial factors related to infant feeding patterns. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 5, 153–164.
4.
HoffmanM. N.DurcanN. M.DislerP. B. (1984) Breast feeding in a socio-economically disadvantaged area of Cape Town. South African Medical Journal, 66, 64–66.
5.
PopkinB.BilsborrowR.AkinJ. (1982) Breast feeding patterns in low-income countries. Science, 218, 1088–1093.
6.
PowerD. J.WilloughbyW.De WaalP. B. (1979) Breast feeding in Cape Town. South African Medical Journal, 56, 718–721.
7.
RansomeO. J.ChalmersB.HermanA. B.ReinachS. G. (1988) Infant feeding in an urban community. South African Medical Journal, 74, 393–395.
8.
RansomeO. J.ChalmersB.HermanA. B.ReinachS. G. (1989) Factors influencing breast feeding in an urban community. South African Medical Journal, 76, 431–433.
