Social support networks and care work in breastfeeding: a qualitative study from a feminist economics perspective.

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the formation of social support networks among women with children under two years of age and how these networks relate to their socioeconomic context and the gender factors that shape caregiving. Using a qualitative approach, 17 women aged 20 to 39, from different socioeconomic backgrounds, were interviewed in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews and field notes. The information was analyzed using a thematic matrix with ATLAS.ti software. The results show that time poverty affects all participants and those who provide support, revealing how caregiving tasks, primarily assumed by women, deepen inequalities and increase their social and economic vulnerability.