Critical Care Obstetrics and Gynecology

The Impact of Time out Hours for Breast Feeding on Work Performance among Nurses in Bahrain

The world health organization and the American Academy of Paediatrics emphasize the importance of breastfeeding for mothers as well as children. Literatures reveal that this right eventually will create a new healthy generation better immune towards diseases. Female nurses in the kingdom of Bahrain, who resume duty on hospitals after two months of maternity leave, face difficulty to continue natural feeding although a two hours breast feeding system is implemented. Caring of patients in the hospital is a very stressful role that requires high level of accuracy, concentration and tolerance to pressure and work load. Therefore, nurses’ mothers face difficulty to balance between work performance and early outing for breastfeeding. Nurses’ mothers intrinsically sense helping others people but are unable to help their own babies. This study aimed to identify difficulties nurses’ mothers’ face in hospital which constraint continuation of breast-feeding practices. Quantitative design was used, and data was collected by using formulated questionnaire with a total sample of 73 nurses’ mothers and 6 nurse supervisors. Interviews were conducted in different acute health care settings in one of the governmental hospitals in Bahrain. Result revealed that the existing system is ineffective in the hospital although it may be effective in other organizations. Set of recommendations were raised. Firstly, to increase the duration of maternity leave up to 6 months. Secondly, to establish a breast feeding Centre, facilitating mothers feeding their babies or storing mothers’ milk in the working areas. Lastly, increase nursing manpower in order to ease the implementation of this system.

Author(s):

Mahdi MS

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