Struggling with child care and work within public organisations: a study of the experiences of nursing mothers in Ado Ekiti Southwest Nigeria

Babatunde J. Omotosho, Federal University Oye-Ekiti

Within work places in Nigeria, nursing mothers juggle with the demands of childcare and work. This study investigated the coping strategies adopted and implications on their health and wellbeing. A total of 160 copies of questionnaires were administered to nursing mothers within selected organizations and complemented with in-depth interviews. Findings revealed that respondents faced different challenges including access to crèche facilities and navigating the distance between work place. As regards the implications on mothers’ health and wellbeing, 45.3percent attributed it to stress; while 33.4percent ascribed the implication to child-mother infection due to poor crèche facilities for babies. As regards their coping strategies, medical attention (when the need arises) and religious means constituted some of the steps taken. A significant relationship equally exists between stress, health and work place for nursing mothers. From the foregoing, further attention needs to be paid to the health and well-being of nursing mothers within workplaces.