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Physicians as mothers

Breastfeeding practices of physician-mothers in Newfoundland and Labrador

Alison C. Edwards, MSc
Division of Community Health and Humanities in the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University of Newfoundland

Correspondence to: Dr Pauline S. Duke, c/o Discipline of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 300 Prince Phillip Dr, St John’s, NL A1B 3V6; telephone 709 777-6743; fax 709 777-7913; e-mail pduke{at}mun.ca

OBJECTIVE To determine the initiation rate and duration of breastfeeding among female physicians in Newfoundland and Labrador, and to identify demographic factors that might influence duration of breastfeeding in this population.

DESIGN Mailed survey.

SETTING Newfoundland and Labrador.

PARTICIPANTS One hundred eighty licensed female physicians.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Self-reported initiation of breastfeeding for each baby born, duration of breastfeeding in number of months, and reasons for ending breastfeeding.

RESULTS The response rate was 68%. The breastfeeding initiation rate among respondents was 96.6%. More physicians who graduated in 1980 or later breastfed for longer periods (63.9% vs 33.3%, P = .008). More family doctors than specialists breastfed their babies for longer periods (65.5% vs 33.3%, P = .004). More physicians whose partners were working part-time breastfed for longer periods than physicians whose partners were working full-time (83.3% vs 50.8%, P = .037). Other factors, such as age, income, maternity leave and benefits, part-time or full-time work, and urban or rural practice, did not affect duration of breastfeeding. Personal issues accounted for 51% of respondents’ ending breastfeeding; baby issues accounted for 38%, practice issues for 33%, medical school issues for 4%, and societal issues for 1%.

CONCLUSION The breastfeeding initiation rate among female physician respondents in Newfoundland and Labrador was 96.6%; more than 50% of these physicians breastfed for longer than 7 months. Physicians graduating in 1980 or later breastfed their babies for longer.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. L. Parsons, P. S. Duke, P. Snow, and A. Edwards Physicians as parents: Parenting experiences of physicians in Newfoundland and Labrador Can Fam Physician, August 1, 2009; 55(8): 808 - 809.e4. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]