Background The number of breastfeeding mothers participating in a labor force to generate income has been increasing in Nepal. In this regard, the study aims to assess the survival of Under 3 children in Nepal from the mother based on their labor force participation and breastfeeding status. Methods Data for the study were obtained from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2016. The sample size of the study was 2,994 live births children, born in the last three years prior to the day of the interview. The robust hazard ratio and cox proportional hazard regression were conducted between dependent and independent variables with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to conclude. Results From a total of 2,994 live births, 85 children died within 36 months of birth. More than 80% of the non-working mothers were breastfeeding their children. The findings shows that the survival of children under-3 is positively associated with the interaction with the mother’s work and breastfeeding status (Hazard Ratio 0.428, 95% CI 0.24, 0.75), family structure (Hazard Ratio 1.511; 95% CI 1.37, 1.655), relationship with the household head (Hazard Ratio 0.452; 95% CI 0.311, 0.65), wealth quintiles (Hazard Ratio 0.390; 95% CI 0.33, 0.46), caste (Hazard Ratio 0.652; 95% CI 0.60, 0.69), and religion (Hazard Ratio 2.015; 95% CI 1.09, 3.70) with model CI 95%, Log pseudo likelihood = -521.39236, prob. χ2 = 0.005 and time at risk = 52,748. Conclusions The highest rate of child survival was from the working mothers as well as continuing breastfeeding their children followed by mothers breastfeeding the child but not working, compared to mothers working but not breastfeeding the child, and mothers who were neither working nor breastfeeding their children respectively. This study provides clear evidence that breastfeeding is very important for the probability of survival of the child aged below 36 months and work of mother also have some positive impact on child survival. Employers should be encouraged to have a breastfeeding policy in the workplace through the establishment of a breastfeeding facility, and a flexible work schedule. At the same time government should also regulate the paid maternity leave and encourage societal support for the breastfeeding mothers.

Introduction: The number of breastfeeding mothers participating as a labor force to generate income has been increasing in Nepal. In this regards study aims to assess the survival of Under 3 children in Nepal from the mother based on their labor force participation and breastfeeding status. Methods: Data for the study were obtained from the Nepal Demographic Health survey 2016-2017. The sample size of the study was 2,994 live birth children born in the last three years from the day of interview. The robust hazard ratio and cox proportional hazard regression were conducted between dependent and independent variables to come to the conclusion.Results: Among 2994 live birth, 85 children died before reaching 36 months of their life. Among them more than 80 % of the non-working mothers were breastfeeding their children. The analysis revealed that the survival of the children under-3 is positively associated with the interaction with mother work and breastfeeding status, family structure, relationship with household head, wealth quintiles, caste and religion of mother. Conclusion: The highest rate of child survival was from the working mothers as well as continuing breastfeeding to their child followed by mothers breastfeeding the child but not working, mother working but not breastfeeding the child and mothers those were neither working nor breastfeeding their child respectively. Employers should be encouraged to have a breastfeeding policy in work place through establishment of breastfeeding facility, paid maternity leave and flexible work schedule.