Beschreibung:
<jats:p>Exclusive breastfeeding in the first six mo of life is critical to child development and health. Effective from May 1, 2013, Vietnam became one of the first lower‐ to middle‐income countries to offer 6‐month paid maternity leave (6mo‐PML). We analyzed data from different sources to 1) describe the process of adopting the 6mo‐PML policy, 2) examine perceptions of employed women about this policy, and 3) assess the association between maternity leave and the exclusive breastfeeding practice. Five key components leading to policy change were the establishment of partnerships, consensus building among various stakeholders, evidence‐based policy advocacy, development of messages and materials, and engaging the media. An online survey (n = 1,005) showed employed women believed that 6mo‐PML was beneficial for infant's health (72%), mother's health (59%), society (45%) and family (34%). To avail of 6mo‐PML, mothers needed support from employers to maintain positions (80%) and hire temporary staff (48%). Findings from an onsite survey (n = 6,240) show that the percent of mothers who returned to work when the infant was < 4 mo, 4 mo and 5 mo were 5%, 15% and 22%, respectively. Mothers who returned to work had a statistically lower prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding than those who did not in the overall sample (20% vs. 34%) and for all age groups (< 4 mo: 35% vs. 42%; 4 mo: 19% vs. 26%; and 5 mo: 9% vs. 15%). Adjusted OR for returning to work was 0.65 (95%CI 0.53, 0.80). With increasing numbers of women entering the labor force, adoption of maternity protection policies is critical to enabling working mothers to optimally breastfeed their children.</jats:p><jats:p>Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, through Alive & Thrive, managed by FHI 360</jats:p>