Majority of women want more breastfeeding areas in public places

81.9% suggested commercial and government premises improve breastfeeding facilities’ hygiene standards. 

A majority of breastfeeding women (87.4%) want public places such as shopping malls and government premises to provide more breastfeeding facilities, according to a study conducted by The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC).

Moreover, 81.9% suggested that both commercial and government premises should improve the hygiene standards of their breastfeeding and expressing facilities. 

Common problems include inadequate availability, long queues, unfavourable positioning of facilities, poor lighting and hygiene issues.

In line with this, the research team conducted an audit of 50 shopping centres and 50 government premises to assess the provision and quality lactation facilities. 

It found that 10 shopping centres and 8 government premises did not provide BLRs. 

Areas in 52.5% of the shopping centres and 38.1% of government premises did not comply with the suggested size and over half (53.7%) had directional signs and symbols that hinted at gender stereotyping. 

Additonally, half (52.4%) had non-users easily seeing the interior of the BLR when the door was open. 

The study advises the government to revise the Practice Note on “Provision of Babycare Rooms and Lactation Rooms in Commercial Buildings” to address the issue. Also, the Buildings Department may revise the note to encourage the provision of more than one BLR in commercial buildings.