Barriers and facilitators to exclusive breastfeeding among formally employed mothers in urban Indonesia

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among working mothers is shaped by complex interactions between individual strengths and structural conditions. Supportive policies and environments are essential to help bridge the gap between mothers' intentions and practical realities. Implementation of enforceable workplace protections and extension of maternity leave are essential to sustain EBF in Indonesia. It is equally important to establish employer accountability mechanisms-such as government monitoring and enforcement of workplace lactation rooms and breastfeeding breaks-that can be implemented in the short term.