Breastfeeding Among Working Mothers in Beijing: Challenges, Awareness Gaps, and Awareness-Practice Gaps

Abstract

For the health and development of mothers and children, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that mothers breastfeed their children. According to guidelines published by the WHO, it is suggested that mothers exclusively feed their children breastmilk for six months after birth. In China, low breastfeeding, especially in urban areas, has been a concern that the government and health organizations have had for decades. Data collected in 2008 reveals that the exclusive breastfeeding rate of infants under 6 months in urban China is only around 15.8% and the trend continues to decrease. This paper examines the factors contributing to the awareness and awareness-practice gaps of breastfeeding among first-time, working mothers in urban Beijing. In total, 50 postnatal (within two years since given birth), first time, working mothers in urban Beijing, China were recruited. A self-administered survey was conducted for all participants and five in-depth interviews were held among the 50 participants. An awareness gap was identified among 50 working mothers in Beijing, with income loss, COVID-19, and scarce hospital resources as its three main determinants. The main factors of awareness-practice gap are TV commercials, IF promotion, self-perception, partner’s involvement, and workplace experience.