Profile of tutors in the Working Woman who Breastfeeds action in the state of Paraná: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Introduction The Working Woman who Breastfeeds (WWB) action seeks to support the continuity of breastfeeding at work, with the WWB action Tutor being responsible for implementing and monitoring the strategy. Objective To analyze the profile and perceptions of the performance of tutors in the WWB action, in the state of Paraná. Methods A cross-sectional study with a quantitative and qualitative approach was conducted with tutors of the WWB action. Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire on Google Forms. Results The sample consisted of 19 tutors, of whom 52.5% were nurses and 15.7% were nutritionists. Among the participants, 52.6% reported feeling little confidence in carrying out the activities expected of WWB action tutors. The main difficulties mentioned were: 1) Lack of time and workload; 2) Lack of experience; 3) Lack of government incentive and coordination; and 4) Lack of interest from companies. The identified strengths were: 1) Accessibility and resources for support; 2) Interest and recognition of the topic’s importance; and 3) Institutional support network. Conclusion The research highlights the importance of strengthening support for tutors through continuous education via regular meetings of the local WWB group and ensuring coordination between the state and municipal levels.