A descriptive study to explore working conditions and childcare practices among informal women workers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: identifying opportunities to support childcare for mothers in informal work

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough women working in the informal economy are a large and vulnerable group, little is known about infant feeding and childcare practices among these women. The aim of this study was to explore childcare practices among mothers in informal work.MethodsA cross-sectional survey among mothers with children aged < 2 years working in the informal economy in an urban and a rural site in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Participants were selected using purposive and snowball sampling.ResultsA total of 247 interviews were conducted with 170 informal traders and 77 domestic workers. Most mothers lived with their child (225/247, 91.1%), had initiated breastfeeding (208/247; 84.2%) and many were still breastfeeding (112/247; 45.3%). Among 96 mothers who had stopped breastfeeding, the most common reason was returning to work (34/96; 35.4%). Many mothers relied on family members, particularly grandmothers, to care for their child while they were working (103/247, 41.7%) but some mothers took their child with them to work (70/247; 28.1%). Few fathers participated in the care of their child: 54 mothers (21.9%) reported that the father had ever looked after the child while she was away from home. Domestic workers were less likely than informal traders to take their child to work (p = 0.038).Women reported receiving a salary from an informal employer (119), or being own-account workers (120) or being unpaid/paid in kind (8). Most participants were in stable work (> 4 years) with regular working hours, but received very low pay. Domestic workers were more likely than informal traders to have regular working hours (p = 0.004), and to be earning >$240 per month (p = 0.003). Mothers reported high levels of food insecurity for themselves and their child: 153 mothers (61.9%) reported having missed a meal in the past month due to lack of resources to buy food, and 88 (35.6%) mothers reported that their child had missed a meal for this reason.ConclusionThis study provides a preliminary description of informal women workers who, despite having stable work, are vulnerable, low paid and food insecure. These women may require support to provide optimal childcare and nutrition for their children.

‘She must cover up whilst the baby is feeding’: Experiences and attitudes about breastfeeding among female and male informal workers in India and South Africa.

“…The study used a qualitative design as part of a broader mixed-methods study [10]. Underpinned by a phenomenological approach, the qualitative design enabled the researchers to focus on the commonalities of participants' subjective experiences and explore the understandings, challenges and complexities of infant feeding practices and child care within the context of informal work [19].…”

“…However, worldwide close to 60% of women make their living in the informal economy which is not regulated or protected by the state [8], with the result that this population of mothers do not benefit from formal employment-related protections that are known to improve infant and young child feeding practices [9]. A survey conducted in South Africa suggests that despite good knowledge of the importance of breastfeeding and high rates of breastfeeding initiation, many informal workers stop breastfeeding when returning to work [10].…”

‘I decided to go back to work so I can afford to buy her formula’: a longitudinal qualitative study to explore how women in informal work balance the challenges of infant feeding and childcare while working to provide for their family

“…Little is known about infant feeding practices among women working in informal work settings, but evidence from the formal work environment suggests that the insecurity and vulnerability of informal workers is likely to result in early return to work and low rates of breastfeeding. A small study conducted in KwaZulu-Natal supports this nding, showing that although most informal women workers initiated breastfeeding, many women stopped breastfeeding on returning to informal work [3]. However, a contrasting view is that the exible nature of informality may actually encourage breastfeeding and this has been suggested in several settings [5,12,13].…”

“…Informal workers lack the social protection legislated for formal workers, including access to maternity leave, sick leave, or unemployment bene ts. Informal work is characterised by poor job security, low earnings, and unsafe working conditions, and there are high rates of poverty, food insecurity and vulnerability among informal workers [2,3]. In South Africa among 6.8 million working women, almost 2 million women work informally, most commonly as informal traders, domestic workers and agricultural workers [4].…”

“…This is particularly true for informal women workers, who are low paid and vulnerable to losing their jobs if they take prolonged leave. As a result, many women in informal work return to work soon after childbirth [3,6]. Thus, the need to work and provide for their family has a major impact on how these women are able to care for and feed their children [5].…”