EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING AND WORK: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SYMBIOTIC EFFECTS AND SUPPORT MECHANISMS FOR WORKING MOTHERS IN THE WA MUNICIPALITY

Abstract

Among the many roles performed by women, the reproductive role is probably the most important and unique to womanhood. Women's caregiving role, especially breastfeeding stems from the fact that, they carry the pregnancy to term and are biologically prepared to start the caregiving process. Breast milk has been proven to be the ideal food for infants for up to six months and mother all over the world are being encouraged to feed their babies with only breast milk, direct from the breast for at least six months. Exclusive breastfeeding is known to greatly benefit both infant (strengthen the immune system, and protect against diarrhea, pneumonia and other common childhood illnesses; thus reducing infant morbidity and mortality) and mother (reducing risk of type 2 diabetes, breast and ovarian cancers and postpartum depression). This thesis explored the effects of maternal employment and exclusive breastfeeding on each other and what support mothers desire to effectively balance work and exclusive breastfeeding. This mixed method study explored the research problem with 582 participants sampled from different segments of the society. The largest group of participants (312) was working mothers who have children less than 12 months. Other participants included employers, husbands, co-works and nutrition experts in key informant interviews and focus group discussions. This study established that, only 48% of mothers or less practice exclusive breastfeeding; contrasting sharply with the Regional Health Directorate's report of 84% rate. Work affects the mother's ability to exclusively breastfeed just as exclusive breastfeeding affects the mothers work output. Labour regulations have many loose ends, leaving portions of maternity protection to the discretion of employers and their representatives. This is compounded by mothers' poor knowledge on what is guaranteed by the labour law and other international conventions. Under the current arrangement, mothers appear to be failing in both work output and quality childcare. They are caught in the vicious cycle of working so hard, yet achieving little. They are therefore missing out on the benefits of multiple roles and can easily fall pray to depression. A shift to an integrated work environment is a good way to help the mother balance the two roles. Education of mothers to access their rights and employers to see business sense in integrating childcare in the work environment along with legislative amendments to the current labour regulations will also be helpful.