Karen D. Hench, RN, MS¹, James H. Lindenberger², and Cathy Carothers². (1) Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, Rm 10C-26, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-443-9708, khench@hrsa.gov, (2) Best Start Social Marketing, 4809 Busch Blvd., Tampa, FL 33617

Studies indicate that breastfeeding is the most cost-effective health promotion/disease prevention activity that a new mother can choose for her infant (1, 2). However, breastfeeding initiation and 6-month duration rates are well below the Healthy People 2010 Objectives. There are several barriers to breastfeeding for working mothers, specifically, relatively short maternity leave, inflexible work hours, and lack of breastfeeding or breast milk expression opportunities in the workplace. Research has shown that full-time maternal employment decreases breastfeeding duration when there is little or no support from employers (3). In an effort to address this issue, HRSA’s MCHB launched a new project “Using Loving Support to Develop a Breastfeeding-Friendly Worksite Support kit.” Relevant data were collected through a comprehensive review of the literature, interviews with public and private sector employers with breastfeeding support programs, and a strategy formation session with experts knowledgeable about breastfeeding and/or employment issues to identify gaps in available resource materials. A Worksite Support kit was developed based on data analysis and field testing of prototype materials. The Worksite Support kit which will be available nationally, focuses on the following goals: 1) an increase in the awareness of the economic benefits of breastfeeding among employers; 2) provision of a manageable, flexible, model for implementing worksite breastfeeding support programs; and 3) an increase the number of United States employers that implement worksite breastfeeding support programs.

Learning Objectives: After viewing this poster, the participant will be able to

• Identify two barriers to continuing breastfeeding that are faced by mothers who return to work.
• List two priorities for employers considering developing a breastfeeding friendly workplace.
• Describe how Objectives 1 and 2 are addressed through a unique employer support kit developed to improve the duration of breastfeeding among mothers in the workforce.

Keywords: Breastfeeding, Infant Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.