An investigation into the breastfeeding characteristics of working mothers

The aim of this descriptive study is to examine the breastfeeding characteristics of working mothers and to identify the factors influencing breastfeeding.Data were collected via face-to-face interviews in the well child clinic of a university hospital and two family health centers and electronic mail. The research sample comprised 120 mothers over 18 years old, with one healthy child who is 12-24 months old, was born mature and weighs over 2500 grams.The data collection instrument was a questionnaire prepared by the researcher. The form comprised questions related to descriptive information relating to mothers, working-office conditions, the baby and breastfeeding status. Frequency, t-test, Kruskal-Wallis, one-way ANOVA analysis and Bon-ferroni advanced analysis methods were performed in data analysis.In the study it was found out that mothers whose income equaled to their expenditure excusively breastfeeding longer and had longer total breastfeeding duration than mothers who had higher income. The mothers who could milk expression in their workplace and had facilitating conditions for breastfeeding had longer duration of exclusively breastfeeding. The mothers who had high level of education, girls and who had friends to assist milking had longer total duration of breastfeeding than others. It was found out that the mother?s age, mode of delivery, perception of spouse support, daily work hours and return to work time did not influence the duration of exclusively and total breastfeeding.In conclusion, establishing appropriate conditions for the mothers to expression and storage their milk will result in lengthening their breastfeeding period.