Investigating Distinctive Socioeconomic Challenges of Government Employed Breastfeeding-Working Mothers: In Case of Jimma City

Abstract

This study aims at investigating distinctive socioeconomic challenges facing employed breastfeeding-working mothers in government offices in Jimma City. It is intended to create a good opportunity for government and private enterprises or other stakeholders to provide them with valuable and considerable information about socioeconomic challenges of breastfeedingworking mothers. I used a qualitative approach with case study and cross-sectional study design. The findings show that there are serious socioeconomic issues of breastfeeding-working mothers in various government organizations and huge demands toward improvements. According to analyzed views of BF mothers on their current socioeconomic problems, first, they had condemnations and dissatisfactions towards the four-month maternity leave in Ethiopia. Second, as they returned to workplace, they experienced various distinctive financial expenses affecting their socioeconomic status because of their BF baby. Third, they experienced lack of supports at home and workplace to care for their baby and other households and office activities. Regarding economic problems, the employed mothers were paid a lower monthly salary, which was unfit to what they demanded to afford as basic necessities. Thus, breastfeeding-working mothers were distinctively suffering additional expenses of milk or food, hygiene materials supplies, transport and communication services, healthcare services, and hiring a baby caregiver. To sum up, to improve the socioeconomic difficulties of Ethiopian employed breastfeeding-working mothers and to help them become active and effective at workplace and in family environments, some practical recommendations were raised as minimizations of the challenges.