Mother’s autonomy on reproductive health in the context of breastfeeding: Policy in Indonesia

Breastfeeding has been appreciated mainly as fulfilling an infant’s right to health. It, however, also involves the mother’s right to reproductive health, in this context, is the right to autonomy. This paper assesses how the selected provisions on breastfeeding facilitate the fulfillment of a mother’s freedom, precisely in the decision-making process. The analysis focuses on two groups of provisions: (i) Provisions of laws that affect breastfeeding by working mothers; (ii) Provisions of laws related to efforts to provide information related to breastfeeding for mothers. The study uses a doctrinal and legislative approach with the desk study method (literature, law, and policy review). The result is that the provisions of laws governing breastfeeding have not fully provided facilities for mothers as a way to fulfill mothers’ right to autonomy. This is based on two findings: 1) the absence of a clause requiring information on potential hurdles and challenges that mothers may face, and 2) the absence of a provision ensuring information given to mothers inclusive of the fact of no legal consequences related to mothers’ decisions. Those two are considered essential for the fulfillment of a mother’s autonomy. Key Words: Breastfeeding; reproductive health; mother’s right; mother’s autonomy