THE USE OF BREAST-MILK SUBSTITUTES IN DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES - THE IMPACT OF WOMENS EMPLOYMENT

Objectives. This study quantified the influence of employment, specifi cally a mother's employment away from her infant, on the use of breast milk substitutes in developing countries. Methods. Data from the Demo graphic and Health Surveys were used to calculate the population attri butable risk percentage for use of breast milli substitutes among, wom en employed away from their babies in 15 countries for which suitable data were available. Results. The estimated proportion of breast milk substitute use attributable to employment away from the baby ranged fr om 0.74% to 20.9% in the various countries. Conclusions. Employment is not the main determinant of breast milk substitute use. Efforts to im prove breast-feeding can be safely targeted at the majority of women w ho are not employed away from their babies while nevertheless giving a ppropriate attention to the minority of new mothers who are employed a way from their babies.