Associations Between Husband and Co-worker Support, and Availability of Lactation Room Facilities in the Workplace with Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Formal Sector Employed Mothers in Dairi Regency

Abstract

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life is essential to ensure optimal infant growth, development, and health. Despite its benefits, there are still many regencies/cities in Indonesia that have not met the national target for exclusive breastfeeding, including Dairi Regency in North Sumatra Province, which only has an exclusive breastfeeding rate of 40.65%. The low rate of exclusive breastfeeding is influenced by various challenges, such as working mothers. This study aims to determine the association of husband and co-worker support, and the availability of lactation room facilities in the workplace with exclusive breastfeeding among formal sector employed mothers in Dairi Regency. This cross-sectional study was conducted in five selected sub-districts in Dairi Regency on 187 samples of formal sector employed mothers with children aged 6-12 years who were taken through a multistage sampling process. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test. The results showed that the majority of working mothers in the formal sector in Dairi Regency did not provide exclusive breastfeeding to their babies (80.7%). Husband support (p=0.001), co-worker support (p=0.001), and the availability of lactation rooms in the workplace (p=0.008) showed a significant association with exclusive breastfeeding among formal sector employed mothers in Dairi Regency. Workplace management is expected to be supportive by providing sufficient lactation room facilities and creating a positive organizational culture to encourage mothers in exclusive breastfeeding. Husbands should also play an active role in motivating working mothers to continue providing exclusive breastfeeding.