Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39854519›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2025

How is maternal employment associated with infant and young child feeding in Bangladesh? A systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

M A Rifat, Plabon Sarkar, Israth Jahan Rimu, Syeda Saima Alam, Tasnu Ara, Tobias Lindström Battle, Manzur Kader, Sanjib Saha

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

M A RifatDepartment of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0003-0562-9791
Plabon SarkarCaritas Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Israth Jahan RimuDepartment of Food Technology and Nutrition Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh.
Syeda Saima AlamDepartment of Food Technology and Nutrition Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh.
Tasnu AraNutrition International, Dhaka, Bangladesh.ORCID 0000-0002-1105-7876
Tobias Lindström BattleDepartment of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Manzur KaderDepartment of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0001-8181-648X
Sanjib SahaDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Health Economics Unit, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn the last three decades, the increasing trend in female employment in Bangladesh has been critically analyzed from a socioeconomic point of view; however, its impact on infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices has yet to be systematically reviewed. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to investigate the association between these variables.

methodsA systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, and Google Scholar to retrieve relevant records with no restriction of publication period. The Covidence tool was used for screening and data extraction. Meta-analysis was carried out using random effect models. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used for the quality assessment of the included articles.

resultsA total of 24 articles were included. Of these, 16 focused on breastfeeding-related indicators, 6 focused on complementary feeding-related indicators, and 2 focused on both. Maternal employment was found to have both positive (protective) and negative (detrimental) associations with exclusive breastfeeding, whereas it was mainly positively associated with complementary feeding practices. Meta-analysis showed the pooled odds ratio of recommended early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, and complementary feeding among employed mothers were 0.79 (95% CI: 0.49, 1.27; p = 0.33), 0.32 (95% CI:0.16, 0.67; p = 0.002), and 1.07 (95% CI: 0.81, 1.42; p = 0.63) compared to their counterparts, respectively.

conclusionsMaternal employment appears not to be a protective factor for some important breastfeeding indicators in Bangladesh. For example, there was a statistically significant lower likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding practice among employed mothers as compared to those who were not employed. Therefore, these issues should be taken into consideration when formulating relevant policies and interventions, e.g., breastfeeding-friendly workplace.

Indexed as

Breast FeedingEmploymentMothersWomen, WorkingAdultBangladeshChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantInfant, Newborn

Identifiers

PMID39854519
PMCPMC11759378

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.