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Abstract

Breastfeeding continues to be the most optimal source of nutrition for infants under 6 months of age, and has been associated with a wide variety of infant and maternal health benefits, including protection against certain illnesses and diseases. Most health organizations recommend exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first 6 months post-birth. Despite these recommendations, breastfeeding women, especially those in lower socioeconomic groups face many challenges in our society. Moreover, maternal employment stands as a significant barrier to successful breastfeeding durations. To counter these problems, Section 4207 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act [ACA] was enacted to offer certain protections for breastfeeding mothers in the workplace. However, many women, including women in certain professional fields, as well as women in low socioeconomic groups, do not have access to these protections. A human rights-based approach should be considered to ensure universal access to benefits among breastfeeding women.

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