Understanding the Role of Work in Mother's Own Milk Provision for Preterm Infants
As a speech-language pathologist, understanding the intricate dynamics between work and health outcomes is crucial, especially when dealing with vulnerable populations like preterm infants. A recent state-of-the-science review, "The Role of Work as a Social Determinant of Health in Mother’s Own Milk Feeding Decisions for Preterm Infants," sheds light on the significant impact of work on the provision of mother's own milk (MOM) to preterm infants. This blog aims to explore how practitioners can utilize these insights to improve outcomes for children.
The Critical Role of Mother's Own Milk
Preterm infants, particularly those born before 32 weeks, face numerous health challenges due to underdeveloped organs and metabolic pathways. Feeding with MOM has been proven to reduce risks associated with prematurity, such as sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis. However, disparities exist, with Black preterm infants less likely to receive MOM compared to their non-Black counterparts.
Work as a Social Determinant of Health
Work is a critical social determinant of health, influencing income, insurance coverage, and the ability to take parental leave. The review highlights that job quality, including aspects like job control and flexibility, significantly affects MOM provision. Mothers with lower job control tend to have shorter breastfeeding durations, exacerbating racial disparities in health outcomes.
Implications for Practitioners
Practitioners can play a pivotal role in addressing these disparities by:
- Advocating for workplace policies that support breastfeeding, such as flexible work hours and adequate break times.
- Providing targeted support and education to mothers, especially those from minority backgrounds, to encourage MOM provision.
- Collaborating with employers to create breastfeeding-friendly environments, which can improve health outcomes for preterm infants.
Opportunities for Further Research
The review identifies several gaps in the current literature, including the need for more research on unpaid work's impact on MOM provision and the economic trade-offs mothers face. Understanding these factors can help develop more effective interventions to support MOM provision for preterm infants.
Conclusion
By understanding the role of work as a social determinant of health, practitioners can better support mothers in providing MOM to preterm infants, ultimately improving health outcomes and reducing disparities. For those interested in delving deeper into this topic, the original research paper offers a comprehensive analysis of these issues.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: The Role of Work as a Social Determinant of Health in Mother’s Own Milk Feeding Decisions for Preterm Infants: A State of the Science Review.
