Workplace Lactation Support in Milwaukee County 5 Years After the Affordable Care Act. J Hum Lact 2017 Feb;33(1):214-219
Date
01/31/2017Pubmed ID
28135480DOI
10.1177/0890334416679617Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85011579274 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 9 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Workplace lactation support has become increasingly important because returning to work is associated with discontinuing breastfeeding and women in the workforce are increasing. Research aim: This study examined workplace lactation support among Milwaukee County businesses 5 years after implementation of the Affordable Care Act's Break Time for Nursing Mothers provision.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of Milwaukee County businesses was conducted in the summer of 2015 that inquired about workplace policies, lactation spaces, and other lactation resources offered. Business supports were stratified based on employer sizes: large (> 500 employees), medium (50-499 employees), and small (20-49 employees). A lactation amenity score was calculated for each business based on lactation resources available.
RESULTS: Three hundred surveys were distributed and 71 businesses voluntarily completed the survey. Small employers were excluded from statistical analysis due to fewer responses ( n = 8). Overall, 87.3% ( n = 55) of respondents reported providing access to a multiuser space for lactation and 65.1% ( n = 41) reported providing a designated lactation space. Large employers ( n = 30) were more likely than medium employers ( n = 33) to provide a designated lactation space for breastfeeding or expressing (86.7% vs. 45.5%, p < .001). Large employers' mean amenity score was significantly higher than that of medium employers (3.37 vs. 2.57, p = .014), and they were also more likely to offer additional supports including access to a lactation consultant, classes, and materials (46.7% vs. 12.1%, p < .01).
CONCLUSION: Large employers provide more lactation support than medium employers in Milwaukee County. All employers, regardless of size, need to increase additional lactation support for women in the workplace.
Author List
Lennon T, Willis EMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultBreast Feeding
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Lactation
Local Government
Mothers
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Social Support
Surveys and Questionnaires
Wisconsin
Workplace