Institutional support for breastfeeding in Ghana: a case study of University of Education, Winneba
Abstract Objectives This study explored institutional support for breastfeeding student-mothers in the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana. It also examined challenges associated with combining academic work with breastfeeding and childcare. Results Findings show that although the University as...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Research Notes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-018-3608-y |
| _version_ | 1818505952138100736 |
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| author | Jacqueline Nkrumah Fred Yao Gbagbo |
| author_facet | Jacqueline Nkrumah Fred Yao Gbagbo |
| author_sort | Jacqueline Nkrumah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objectives This study explored institutional support for breastfeeding student-mothers in the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana. It also examined challenges associated with combining academic work with breastfeeding and childcare. Results Findings show that although the University as an institution does not have any formal system in place to support breastfeeding among student-mothers, it does follow the provisions made for breastfeeding under the maternity protection section of the labor Act (Act, 651) for its employees. Consequently, breastfeeding student mothers use under trees, lobbies, and Junior Common Rooms of on-campus halls of residence as lactation sites which exposes their babies to risk of infection. The absence of support put student-mothers through stress, divided attention, and conflicting responsibilities between academic work and childcare. Further studies to investigate the situation on other university campuses are recommended to promote policy and interventions on breastfeeding and childcare in tertiary institutions in Ghana to enable students maintain a balance between breastfeeding, childcare and academic work. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T21:57:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cfda1a16b8bf448b9f7a5d19c7ecfdb2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-0500 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T21:57:51Z |
| publishDate | 2018-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Research Notes |
| spelling | doaj.art-cfda1a16b8bf448b9f7a5d19c7ecfdb22022-12-22T01:32:00ZengBMCBMC Research Notes1756-05002018-07-011111610.1186/s13104-018-3608-yInstitutional support for breastfeeding in Ghana: a case study of University of Education, WinnebaJacqueline Nkrumah0Fred Yao Gbagbo1Department of Health Administration and Education, Faculty of Science Education, University of Education, WinnebaDepartment of Health Administration and Education, Faculty of Science Education, University of Education, WinnebaAbstract Objectives This study explored institutional support for breastfeeding student-mothers in the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana. It also examined challenges associated with combining academic work with breastfeeding and childcare. Results Findings show that although the University as an institution does not have any formal system in place to support breastfeeding among student-mothers, it does follow the provisions made for breastfeeding under the maternity protection section of the labor Act (Act, 651) for its employees. Consequently, breastfeeding student mothers use under trees, lobbies, and Junior Common Rooms of on-campus halls of residence as lactation sites which exposes their babies to risk of infection. The absence of support put student-mothers through stress, divided attention, and conflicting responsibilities between academic work and childcare. Further studies to investigate the situation on other university campuses are recommended to promote policy and interventions on breastfeeding and childcare in tertiary institutions in Ghana to enable students maintain a balance between breastfeeding, childcare and academic work.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-018-3608-yInstitutional supportBreastfeedingChildcareAcademic workStudent-mothers |
| spellingShingle | Jacqueline Nkrumah Fred Yao Gbagbo Institutional support for breastfeeding in Ghana: a case study of University of Education, Winneba BMC Research Notes Institutional support Breastfeeding Childcare Academic work Student-mothers |
| title | Institutional support for breastfeeding in Ghana: a case study of University of Education, Winneba |
| title_full | Institutional support for breastfeeding in Ghana: a case study of University of Education, Winneba |
| title_fullStr | Institutional support for breastfeeding in Ghana: a case study of University of Education, Winneba |
| title_full_unstemmed | Institutional support for breastfeeding in Ghana: a case study of University of Education, Winneba |
| title_short | Institutional support for breastfeeding in Ghana: a case study of University of Education, Winneba |
| title_sort | institutional support for breastfeeding in ghana a case study of university of education winneba |
| topic | Institutional support Breastfeeding Childcare Academic work Student-mothers |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-018-3608-y |
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