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Does breastfeeding support at work help mothers, children, and employers at the same time?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 September 2022

Emilia Del Bono  and
Chiara Daniela Pronzato
Emilia Del Bono
Affiliation:
Institute for Social and Economic Research, University Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ UK
Chiara Daniela Pronzato*
Affiliation:
Università di Torino and Collegio Carlo Alberto, Lungo Dora Siena 100, 10153 Torino, Italy
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: chiaradaniela.pronzato@unito.it
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Abstract

This paper investigates whether the availability of breastfeeding facilities at the workplace helps to reconcile breastfeeding and work commitments, and whether it has beneficial effects for the health of the child. Using data from the UK Infant Feeding Survey, we find that the availability of breastfeeding facilities at work is associated with longer breastfeeding durations for all women and shorter maternity leave spells for higher educated women. We also find that children born to mothers whose employer offers breastfeeding facilities experience significantly fewer sickness in the first 6 months of life.

Keywords

Breastfeedingchild outcomesfemale labor supplywork facilitiesJ13C26
Type
Research Paper
Information
Journal of Demographic Economics , Volume 90 , Issue 1 , March 2024 , pp. 88 - 115
Copyright
Copyright © Université catholique de Louvain 2022

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