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Informal sector (IFS) activities are viable in reducing poverty among women. Yet, the full potential of IFS in reducing poverty among women may not be realised when women encounter challenges which could retard the attainment of United Nations poverty-related Sustainable Development targets. In Ghana, there is a paucity of studies regarding constraints faced by women in the IFS. The purpose of this study was to explore challenges faced by women in the IFS in Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana to inform policy direction. A sample of 356 women recruited through simple random sampling technique was involved in a cross sectional survey. The study found that 30.9% faced a myriad of challenges comprising inadequate customers, non-payment of debts, high taxes and license fees, unavailability of finance, lack of space, lack of capital equipment and difficulties with existing regulations. The study revealed a significant association between age and challenges with IFS activities. The study established a statistically significant difference between spatial location and challenges faced by women in the IFS activity. Policy recommendations that seek to counter these barriers have been offered for implementation.

ObjectiveIn spite of the benefits associated with exclusive breastfeeding practice (EBP), the practice remains low in Ghana. This study investigates prevalence and factors associated with EBP among lactating mothers of infants aged 6–24 months in Metropolitan Kumasi. Cross-sectional hospital-based data were collected at 5 health facilities from 160 randomly sampled lactating mothers. Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to determine factors associated with EBP.ResultsThe prevalence of EBP was 50.6%. The study revealed that mothers aged 30–49 years (AOR = 1.948; 95% CI [1.146–3.310]), with normal delivery (AOR = 1.824; 95% CI [0.863–2.467]) and those who were unemployed (AOR = 1.202; 95% CI [0.557–2.593]) and without sore nipple (AOR = 1.890; 95% CI [1.534–3.484]) were significantly more likely to practise exclusive breastfeeding. The study further found that respondents with 3–4 deliveries were 0. 492 times significantly less likely to practise exclusive breastfeeding (AOR = 0.492; 95% CI [0.274–0.886]). The study has established the primacy of socio-demographic and health-related factors such as mothers’ age, employment status, number of deliveries (parity), mode of delivery and sore nipples in explaining EBP among lactating mothers. We recommend that policy on exclusive breastfeeding should consider multiple socio-demographic and health-related factors, especially, those associated with EBP.

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