Towards a comprehensive breastfeeding-friendly workplace environment: insight from selected healthcare facilities in the central region of Ghana
Abstract Background In the last three decades, Ghana has championed the objectives of Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiatives to provide pregnant women and nursing mothers with the skills and support systems necessary for attaining optimal breastfeeding. Yet, little is known in literature on how these in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11652-5 |
| _version_ | 1819124290641985536 |
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| author | Jacqueline Nkrumah Aaron Asibi Abuosi Rodney Buadi Nkrumah |
| author_facet | Jacqueline Nkrumah Aaron Asibi Abuosi Rodney Buadi Nkrumah |
| author_sort | Jacqueline Nkrumah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In the last three decades, Ghana has championed the objectives of Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiatives to provide pregnant women and nursing mothers with the skills and support systems necessary for attaining optimal breastfeeding. Yet, little is known in literature on how these intervention regimes practically promote breastfeeding-friendly work environment in healthcare facilities and their level of effectiveness. This study explores the extent to which healthcare facilities in Ghana’s Effutu Municipality provide breastfeeding-friendly workplace environment to breastfeeding frontline health workers. Methods A descriptive mixed-method approach was employed to collect data from fifty-four participants, comprising healthcare facility representatives and breastfeeding frontline health workers. A self-administered questionnaire with structured responses was administered to frontline health workers, followed by interview guides for representatives of hospital management. Thematic analysis was used to analyze interview responses. Responses to questionnaires were processed with SPSS version 23.0 and presented using frequencies and percentages. Results Three main themes emerged, namely, Standpoints on workplace breastfeeding support; Breastfeeding support, and Suggested future directions. Beyond this, six sub-themes emerged, including backings for workplace breastfeeding support; perceived benefits of breastfeeding support; factors of poor breastfeeding workplace support; maternity protection benefits; workplace support gaps, and awareness creation on benefits. Breastfeeding frontline health workers held that their hospitals have no breastfeeding policy (96%), no breastfeeding facility (96%), they do not go to work with baby (96%), but had 12 weeks maternity leave (96%) and worked half-day upon return to work (70%). Conclusion Health facilities in the study do not provide a breastfeeding-friendly work environment except for the privileges provided by the Labor Act and conditions of service. Continuous advocacy on breastfeeding workplace support and stakeholder engagement to build consensus on the mix of strategies suitable to cushion breastfeeding frontline health workers is recommended for optimal breastfeeding and improved productivity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T07:21:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0d235188775c4669afea43fd9b24b400 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T07:21:54Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-0d235188775c4669afea43fd9b24b4002022-12-21T18:34:14ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582021-09-0121111210.1186/s12889-021-11652-5Towards a comprehensive breastfeeding-friendly workplace environment: insight from selected healthcare facilities in the central region of GhanaJacqueline Nkrumah0Aaron Asibi Abuosi1Rodney Buadi Nkrumah2Faculty of Science Education, Department of Health Administration and Education, University of EducationDepartment of Public Administration and Health Services Management, University of Ghana Business SchoolCenter for Research on Children and Families, McGill University|3506 University StreetAbstract Background In the last three decades, Ghana has championed the objectives of Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiatives to provide pregnant women and nursing mothers with the skills and support systems necessary for attaining optimal breastfeeding. Yet, little is known in literature on how these intervention regimes practically promote breastfeeding-friendly work environment in healthcare facilities and their level of effectiveness. This study explores the extent to which healthcare facilities in Ghana’s Effutu Municipality provide breastfeeding-friendly workplace environment to breastfeeding frontline health workers. Methods A descriptive mixed-method approach was employed to collect data from fifty-four participants, comprising healthcare facility representatives and breastfeeding frontline health workers. A self-administered questionnaire with structured responses was administered to frontline health workers, followed by interview guides for representatives of hospital management. Thematic analysis was used to analyze interview responses. Responses to questionnaires were processed with SPSS version 23.0 and presented using frequencies and percentages. Results Three main themes emerged, namely, Standpoints on workplace breastfeeding support; Breastfeeding support, and Suggested future directions. Beyond this, six sub-themes emerged, including backings for workplace breastfeeding support; perceived benefits of breastfeeding support; factors of poor breastfeeding workplace support; maternity protection benefits; workplace support gaps, and awareness creation on benefits. Breastfeeding frontline health workers held that their hospitals have no breastfeeding policy (96%), no breastfeeding facility (96%), they do not go to work with baby (96%), but had 12 weeks maternity leave (96%) and worked half-day upon return to work (70%). Conclusion Health facilities in the study do not provide a breastfeeding-friendly work environment except for the privileges provided by the Labor Act and conditions of service. Continuous advocacy on breastfeeding workplace support and stakeholder engagement to build consensus on the mix of strategies suitable to cushion breastfeeding frontline health workers is recommended for optimal breastfeeding and improved productivity.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11652-5Optimal breastfeedingFrontline health workersBreastfeeding workplace environmentWork challengesCoping strategies |
| spellingShingle | Jacqueline Nkrumah Aaron Asibi Abuosi Rodney Buadi Nkrumah Towards a comprehensive breastfeeding-friendly workplace environment: insight from selected healthcare facilities in the central region of Ghana BMC Public Health Optimal breastfeeding Frontline health workers Breastfeeding workplace environment Work challenges Coping strategies |
| title | Towards a comprehensive breastfeeding-friendly workplace environment: insight from selected healthcare facilities in the central region of Ghana |
| title_full | Towards a comprehensive breastfeeding-friendly workplace environment: insight from selected healthcare facilities in the central region of Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Towards a comprehensive breastfeeding-friendly workplace environment: insight from selected healthcare facilities in the central region of Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Towards a comprehensive breastfeeding-friendly workplace environment: insight from selected healthcare facilities in the central region of Ghana |
| title_short | Towards a comprehensive breastfeeding-friendly workplace environment: insight from selected healthcare facilities in the central region of Ghana |
| title_sort | towards a comprehensive breastfeeding friendly workplace environment insight from selected healthcare facilities in the central region of ghana |
| topic | Optimal breastfeeding Frontline health workers Breastfeeding workplace environment Work challenges Coping strategies |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11652-5 |
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