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Can Fam Physician
Vol. 53, No. 5, May 2007, pp.887 - 891
Copyright © 2007 by The College of Family Physicians of Canada
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Research

Physicians as mothers

Breastfeeding practices of physician-mothers in Newfoundland and Labrador

Pauline S. Duke, MD FCFP, Wanda L. Parsons, MD FCFP and Pamela A. Snow, MD CCFP
Family doctors and faculty in the Discipline of Family Medicine at Memorial University of Newfoundland in St John’s

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

The Canadian Paediatrics Society and the World Health Organization recommend exclusive breast-feeding until at least 6 months of age.1,2 This is also consistent with recently published recommendations from Health Canada3 and the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Breastfeeding.4

Canadian women initiated breastfeeding at a rate of 85% in 2003.5 In Newfoundland and Labrador, the breastfeeding initiation rate was 63% in 2003.6

A study published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health in 2003 assessed the main social determinants in the general population of Quebec of initiation, duration, and exclusivity of breastfeeding from birth to 4 months.7 Mother’s education level and mother’s age were the most important factors for initiation and duration of breastfeeding up to 4 months. Annual family income showed a negative relationship with breastfeeding when mothers’ ages and education levels were equal.

Female physicians have some particular challenges in balancing work and family issues, partly owing to workload, call duty, and remuneration issues. Freed et al, in a US study, reported that residents and physicians with personal experiences of breastfeeding were more confident providing support and advice to breastfeeding patients.8 Miller and colleagues reported a breastfeeding initiation rate of 80% among resident physicians in 1996 in a random selection of American graduates.9

Arthur et al found a breastfeeding initiation rate of 93% among physician mothers living in Mississippi, with the mean duration of breastfeeding being 18.8 weeks.10,11 The most common reasons to wean children were return to work, diminishing milk supply, and lack of time to express milk. Physician mothers were also more likely to wean earlier and took shorter maternity leaves when returning to full-time employment. The authors found no significant relationship between part-time or full-time work, length of maternity leave, and duration of breastfeeding. Only 31.9% of physicians surveyed received training in lactation management during residency or medical school, and only 21.2% considered their medical training adequate to help them breastfeed their own children without difficulty.

Gielen et al have suggested that early return to work adversely affects initiation and continuation of breast-feeding.12 In Newfoundland and Labrador, approximately two thirds of physicians are fee-for-service and receive no maternity benefits, whereas the one third who are salaried do receive benefits.

This study was designed to look at personal breast-feeding practices of physicians in Newfoundland and Labrador. What is the breastfeeding initiation rate for female physicians in our province? How long do they breastfeed their children? Are there demographic factors that influence duration of breastfeeding in this population of physicians?


   METHODS
TOP
 METHODS
RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 Footnotes
 Acknowledgments
 References
 
We surveyed all 180 female physicians licensed to practise in Newfoundland and Labrador who were registered with the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association.

A questionnaire consisting of 28 multiple-choice questions and space to provide qualitative comments was mailed to participants. The questions were developed by 3 of the authors and tested among some of the physicians in our group practice. The breastfeeding survey was part of a larger survey on parenting practices of physicians. Ethics approval was granted by the Human Investigation Committee of the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

The survey collected data concerning parental leave, number of children born, timing of births (during medical training or practice), age, place of practice, initiation and duration of breastfeeding, and reasons for discontinuation of breastfeeding. The survey was sent and completed in 2001. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Qualitative data were collected as part of the mailed questionnaire; respondents were asked for any comments that they would like to add. Three readers developed themes through consensus, and there was agreement on thematic categories.

We used multiple logistic regression to analyze data from the 88 female physicians who had breastfed their babies; {chi}² tests were used to identify significant (P ≤ .05) control variables to include in the multiple logistic regression. The dependent variable was length of breastfeeding, coded as 6 months or less and 7 months or more. When analyzing breastfeeding duration, where more than 1 child was breastfed by a mother, data from the child who was breastfed the longest were used. The independent variables were medical specialty (coded as specialist and family physician), graduation year (coded as 1980 or later and 1979 or earlier), and partner’s working hours (coded as full-time and part-time).


   RESULTS
TOP
 METHODS
 RESULTS
DISCUSSION
 Footnotes
 Acknowledgments
 References
 
Of the 180 surveys mailed, 123 (68%) women responded. Respondents’ characteristics are described in Table 1. Of these 123 women, 89 had 1 or more birth children; 1 had stepchildren. This paper studies the 89 who had birth children. There were a total of 215 children born to these women; 192 were breastfed and 86 women breastfed 1 or more children. The breastfeeding initiation rate was 96.6% among those who responded to the survey. More than half (54.5%) breastfed for 7 months or more, and 45.5% breastfed for 6 months or less or not at all.


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  		Table 1 Sociodemographic and practice-related characteristics of the study sample (N = 89)*

 
Table 2 details the variables we assessed using bivariate analysis to determine whether they affected duration of breastfeeding. The decade in which physicians graduated played a role in breastfeeding duration, with more physicians who graduated in 1980 or later breastfeeding for longer periods (63.9% vs 33.3%; P = .008). There was a significant difference between specialists and family doctors. More family doctors than specialists breastfed for 7 months or longer (65.5% vs 33.3%; P = .004). Finally, more mothers breastfed for 7 months or longer if their partners worked part-time (83.3% vs 50.8%; P = .037). Other factors, such as age, maternity leave length and benefits, type of remuneration, income level, practice setting, solo or group practice, part-time or full-time work, and rural or urban practice, did not significantly affect duration of breastfeeding. Four physicians did not take leave. While year of graduation, being a family doctor or a specialist, and partner’s hours of work were all significantly related to length of breastfeeding in the bivariate analysis, when we included these variables in a logistic regression, only year of graduation remained independently predictive of breastfeeding for 7 months or longer. The Nagelkerke r2 value for this model was 0.214. The odds ratio shows that those who graduated in 1980 or later were 3.28 times more likely to breastfeed for 7 months or longer than those who graduated before 1980 (Table 3).


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  		Table 2 Effect of sociodemographic and practice-related variables on breastfeeding duration (N = 88*)

 

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  		Table 3 Multiple logistic regression analysis predicting whether female physicians breastfed their babies for 7 months or more (N = 88)

 
Qualitative comments received from respondents about reasons for ending breastfeeding were grouped into the following 5 categories: personal issues, baby issues, practice issues, medical school and residency issues, and societal issues. The 3 most common reasons to stop breastfeeding were return to work, baby losing interest, and time constraints. These comments are summarized in Table 4.


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  		Table 4 Reasons for ending breastfeeding

 

   DISCUSSION
TOP
 METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
Footnotes
 Acknowledgments
 References
 
The breastfeeding initiation rate of female physician respondents (96.6%) is much higher than the initiation rate for women in general in Newfoundland and Labrador (63%)6, higher than Canadian women (85%)5, and slightly higher than female physicians (93% and 80%) in other studies.9,10 More than half of the physician respondents breastfed for 7 months or longer, which is longer than the duration of breastfeeding in other studies of female physicians.10

Reasons for discontinuing breastfeeding were similar to other studies. These were returning to work, babies losing interest in breastfeeding, and time constraints at work and home.

Significant factors affecting duration of breastfeeding in our study were that family physicians breastfed longer than specialists, physicians graduating in 1980 or later breastfed for longer periods, and female physicians whose partners worked part-time at the time of the survey breastfed their babies for longer periods. Of these, only decade of graduation remained an independent predictor of length of breastfeeding under logistic regression. Perhaps physicians graduating before 1980 were of the generation when breastfeeding was less encouraged in our culture and were also the pioneers in establishing female presence in the physician work force. The lack of acceptance of breastfeeding in the workplace at that time might have discouraged women from continuing breastfeeding. Since that time, the view of the ideal length of time for breastfeeding has also changed.

It is quite encouraging that physician mothers initiated and continued breastfeeding for such long periods. Frank suggested that practising healthy behaviour oneself as a physician was a powerful predictive factor for counseling patients about prevention issues.13 This might also apply to breastfeeding. We hope physicians can serve as role models for their breastfeeding patients.

As more women are graduating from medical school, personal breastfeeding issues for physicians will become more important, and factors that affect duration of breastfeeding will have to be addressed in physicians’ workplaces. A number of respondents cited practice issues, including pressure from patients and colleagues to return to work, as reasons for ending breastfeeding. Do we need more support in the workplace for breast-feeding physician mothers? These issues must be further explored.

Limitations
There were some limitations to this study. Fifty-seven physicians (32%) did not respond to the survey. This might have biased the study to some extent, as physicians who breastfed might have responded more readily. Questions about exclusivity of breastfeeding in the first 6 months were not asked. There was no attempt made to control for the number of years since the surveyed physicians had breastfed their children.

Conclusion
The breastfeeding initiation rate among female physician respondents in Newfoundland and Labrador was 96.6%; more than 50% of these physicians breastfed for 7 months or longer. Physicians graduating in 1980 or later breastfed their babies for longer periods. Other demographic factors, such as age, length of maternity leave, maternity leave benefits, fee-for-service or salaried practice, urban or rural practice, part-time or full-time work, income level, and practice setting or type of practice, did not influence the duration of breastfeeding. Further research is needed to assess whether this translates into better breastfeeding support for our patients.



   EDITOR’S KEY POINTS
 
  • This study explored personal breastfeeding practices of physicians in Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • The authors wondered whether early return to work adversely affects initiation and continuation of breastfeeding, especially because there are no maternity benefits for fee-for-service physicians in Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • Almost all respondents initiated breastfeeding, and most breastfed for 7 months or longer. Reasons for ending breastfeeding included personal issues (51%), baby issues (38%), and practice issues (33%).

 


   Acknowledgments
TOP
 METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 Footnotes
 Acknowledgments
References
 
We thank Dr Marshall Godwin for reviewing this article and for his very helpful suggestions and advice.


   Footnotes
TOP
 METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 Footnotes
Acknowledgments
 References
 
This article has been peer reviewed.

Contributors

Drs Duke, Parsons and Snow conceived the idea for the article and designed and carried out the survey. Ms Edwards did the statistical analysis and provided valuable commentary on the research significance. Dr Duke wrote and all authors reviewed the article submitted for publication.

Competing interests

None declared


   References
TOP
 METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 Footnotes
 Acknowledgments
 References
 

  1. Boland M. Exclusive breastfeeding should continue to six months. Paediatr Child Health 2005;10(3):148.[Medline]
  2. World Health Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund. Global strategy for infant and young child feeding. Geneva, Switz: World Health Organization; 2001. Available from: www.who.int/child-adolescent-health/NewPublications/NUTRITION/gs_iycf.pdf. Accessed 2007 February 14.
  3. Health Canada. Exclusive breastfeeding duration—2004 Health Canada recommendation. Ottawa, Ont: Health Canada; 2004. Available from: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/child-enfant/infant-nourisson/excl_bf_dur-dur_am_excl_e.html. Accessed 2007 February 28.
  4. American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics 2005;115(2):496-506.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  5. Millar WJ, Maclean H. Breastfeeding practices. Health Rep (Statistics Canada, Catalogue 82–003) 2005;16(2):23-31. Available from: www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/82-003-XIE/0020482-003-XIE.pdf. Accessed 2007 February 28.
  6. Neonatal breast-feeding initiation statistics (1986–2006). Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Perinatal Program. St John’s, Nfld: Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Perinatal Program; 2007.
  7. Dubois L, Girard M. Social determinants of initiation, duration, and exclusivity of breastfeeding at the population level: the results of the Longitudinal Study of Child Development in Quebec. Can J Public Health 2003;94(4):300-5.[Medline]
  8. Freed GL, Clark SJ, Sorenson J, Lohr J, Cefalo R, Curtis P. National assessment of physicians’ breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, training, and experience. JAMA 1995;273(6):472-6.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  9. Miller N, Miller D, Chism M. Breastfeeding practices among resident physicians. Pediatrics 1996;98(3):434-7.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  10. Arthur CR, Saenz RB, Replogle WH. The employment-related breastfeeding decisions of physician mothers. J Miss State Med Assoc 2003;44(12):383-7.[Medline]
  11. Arthur CR, Saenz RB, Replogle WH. Personal breast-feeding behaviours of female physicians in Mississippi. South Med J 2003;96(2):130-5.[Medline]
  12. Gielen AC, Faden RR, O’Campo P, Brown H, Paige DM. Maternal employment during the early postpartum period: effects on initiation and continuation of breastfeeding. Pediatrics 1991;87(3):298-305.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  13. Frank E. Physician health and patient care. JAMA 2004;291(5):637.[Free Full Text]



This article has been cited by other articles:


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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]

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
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Right arrow Articles by Duke, P. S.
Right arrow Articles by Edwards, A. C.
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