Factors Influencing Employers' Support for Breastfeeding

Rojjanasrirat, Wilaiporn

Monday, 18 November 2013

Wilaiporn Rojjanasrirat, PhD, RNC, IBCLC
School of Nursing, Graceland University, Independence, MO

Learning Objective 1: 1. Describe the relationships among Theory of Planned Behavior Concepts and employers’ breastfeeding support

Learning Objective 2: 2. Understand study findings and implications to practice and research

Background: Employers have a crucial role in creating a workplace culture that supports and promotes breastfeeding. However, employers may not recognize or value the long-term health and economic benefits of breastfeeding to both their employees and themselves. Understanding factors influencing employers’ support for breastfeeding may help identify barriers and improve worksite lactation programs. The theory of planned behavior was used as a framework in this study.

Purpose: This study used a descriptive correlational design to examine the relationships among demographic characteristics, attitudes, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and workplace lactation support.

Method: Data from a previous study of 380 employers from various business sizes and types in the Midwest, USA were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression analysis.

Results: Findings demonstrated that employers’ intention to support breastfeeding was a significant positive predictor of the presence of workplace lactation support (β =.23, p <.001). However, intention did not mediate the effects of attitudes, subjective norms, or breastfeeding control and presence of workplace lactation support.

Conclusions: Findings of this study suggested that employers who had greater positive attitudes, subjective norms, and breastfeeding controls also had greater workplace lactation support. In terms of implications for practice, findings provide a better understanding of the relationships among theory of planned behavior concepts and presence of lactation support. Information may be useful to help support employers in establishing effective worksite lactation programs.

See more of: Scientific Posters Session 2
See more of: Oral Paper & Poster: Science Sessions