Dr. Beth Olson

Biography

Beth Olson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Wisconsin. Her research focuses on breastfeeding support for low-income working women and improving infant feeding practices in low-income families. She has conducted studies showing that lower breastfeeding rates are observed in women who work full time compared to those working part time or not employed. Olson's extensive research investigates the challenges women face in combining breastfeeding with employment, particularly how workplace environments influence their perceptions of breastfeeding appropriateness when returning to work. She has developed instruments to assess new mother employees' perceptions of their company's breastfeeding support policies, as well as manager attitudes towards breastfeeding support. Olson's work includes evaluating programs aimed at breastfeeding support for low-income women and developing educational curriculums to improve infant feeding practices during the critical months of an infant's life. She has implemented these curriculums in various states, including Michigan and Colorado, demonstrating the effectiveness of her programs in fostering healthy feeding habits for families.

Research Interests