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Knowledge and perceptions of employed women in the Cape Town Metropole regarding maternity protection and breastfeeding rights
Thesis (MNutr)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613977910968320 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Fortuin, Sue-Ann Saromene |
| author2 | Daniels, Lynette Carmen |
| author_browse | Daniels, Lynette Carmen Fortuin, Sue-Ann Saromene |
| author_facet | Daniels, Lynette Carmen Fortuin, Sue-Ann Saromene |
| author_sort | Fortuin, Sue-Ann Saromene |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description |
Thesis (MNutr)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131784 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:44:43.650Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131784 Knowledge and perceptions of employed women in the Cape Town Metropole regarding maternity protection and breastfeeding rights Fortuin, Sue-Ann Saromene Daniels, Lynette Carmen Pereira-Kotze, Catherine Jane Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Global Health. Human Nutrition. Pregnant women -- Employment -- Law and legislation Maternity leave -- Law and legislation Working mothers -- Services for Breastfeeding -- Law and legislation UCTD Thesis (MNutr)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. ENGLISH SUMMARY: Background: Maternity protection (MP) in the workplace is an important component in ensuring the wellbeing and economic security of a woman and her child around the time of birth, during and after pregnancy, as well as during breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding for six months is recommended by the World Health Organization, yet many women stop breastfeeding before returning to work after maternity leave, as they have limited knowledge and awareness regarding their MP entitlements, legislation and policies containing these rights. Women experienced barriers accessing their MP entitlements. Comprehensive MP ensures the provision of maternity leave, cash and medical entitlements, health protection in the workplace, employment protection and non-discrimination, breastfeeding arrangements at work, as well as coping with childcare upon returning to work. Aim: The study determined the knowledge and perceptions of employed women in the Cape Town Metropole regarding MP and breastfeeding rights. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design with an analytical component was conducted, using an online questionnaire. Participants included women of childbearing ages (18–49 years), employed in the Cape Town Metropole, Western Cape, South Africa, and selected via convenience and snowball sampling. Ethical approval was obtained from the Stellenbosch University Health Research Ethics Committee, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Results: A total of 103 participants completed the study, with 22.3% responses. Participants’ average knowledge percentage score was 63.80% (SD=21.55) and participants displayed limited knowledge and awareness of what comprehensive MP entails. School level of education was associated with knowledge of MP (p=0.0067), suggesting that those with a higher level of education were more knowledgeable about MP. Most women reported their employment contract to be the source of information on MP entitlements, while a few of the women reported unsupportive employers in the workplace. Paid maternity leave of four months was received by 22.4% (n=26) participants, unpaid leave of four months by 12 participants, and maternity leave of less than four months by two participants, less than the legislated maternity leave as per the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA). A few participants struggled to access and claim cash payments during maternity leave. Participants were knowledgeable regarding the commencement and notification of maternity leave. Women were not knowledgeable regarding maternity leave duration as per the BCEA, as well as the application for workplace adjustments during and after pregnancy. Paid leave was considered as an enabler of MP, whereas employees’ lack of awareness of MP was listed as one of the main barriers to MP. Conclusion. Employers should consult with employees in order to establish an enabling environment where breastfeeding is promoted, supported and protected. This can be achieved by adopting a breastfeeding policy and a designated room to breastfeed or express breastmilk. The lack of awareness and knowledge of MP of employees can be addressed by concerted collective efforts from various stakeholders, including but not limited to employers, specifically the human resource department, workplace line managers, and shop stewards, to address the lack of knowledge of MP among employees. Government is considered an important stakeholder with the responsibility to ensure that women are able to access MP. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar. Masters 2025-03-24T09:16:47Z 2025-03-24T09:16:47Z 2024-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131784 Stellenbosch University xvii, 111 pages : illustrations, maps, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Pregnant women -- Employment -- Law and legislation Maternity leave -- Law and legislation Working mothers -- Services for Breastfeeding -- Law and legislation UCTD Fortuin, Sue-Ann Saromene Knowledge and perceptions of employed women in the Cape Town Metropole regarding maternity protection and breastfeeding rights |
| title | Knowledge and perceptions of employed women in the Cape Town Metropole regarding maternity protection and breastfeeding rights |
| title_full | Knowledge and perceptions of employed women in the Cape Town Metropole regarding maternity protection and breastfeeding rights |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge and perceptions of employed women in the Cape Town Metropole regarding maternity protection and breastfeeding rights |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge and perceptions of employed women in the Cape Town Metropole regarding maternity protection and breastfeeding rights |
| title_short | Knowledge and perceptions of employed women in the Cape Town Metropole regarding maternity protection and breastfeeding rights |
| title_sort | knowledge and perceptions of employed women in the cape town metropole regarding maternity protection and breastfeeding rights |
| topic | Pregnant women -- Employment -- Law and legislation Maternity leave -- Law and legislation Working mothers -- Services for Breastfeeding -- Law and legislation UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131784 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fortuinsueannsaromene knowledgeandperceptionsofemployedwomeninthecapetownmetropoleregardingmaternityprotectionandbreastfeedingrights |