Exploring the roles of fathers from the perspective of informal women workers: a longitudinal mixed methods study from Durban, South Africa

ABSTRACT

Informal women workers are vulnerable to poverty and job insecurity, but little is known about how they manage multiple childcare and work responsibilities without maternity protection. We explore perspectives of informal working mothers about the role played by their child’s father. A longitudinal mixed-methods study was conducted among women informal workers. In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted at transition points from pregnancy until after women returned to work. Focus group discussions (FGDs) explored the social support systems participants relied on. Twenty-four informal workers were enrolled; 87 IDIs conducted; 14 women participated in three FGDs. Participants had low-paid, insecure informal jobs. Twenty-three participants were in a relationship with the child’s father, and nine were living with him. Fathers played a central role providing emotional, practical and financial support, particularly fathers living in the same household. Most resident fathers took a strong practical role caring for the household and for the baby but traditional practices limited non-resident father’s ability to provide emotional or practical support. Most fathers had low incomes and were unable to provide financial support, so many women returned to work early. Fathers are willing to provide substantial support that is crucial for family well-being, but non-residence is a barrier.

KEYWORDS:

• Pregnancy
• fatherhood
• support
• child health
• child care
• working women
• maternal health
• South Africa
• Africa

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the participants for their invaluable time and contribution to the study. The authors would like to thank Dr Nigel Rollins from the World Health Organization for his strong support for this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

All data, transcripts and study tools to support the findings of this study are available from the Centre for Rural Health and will be made available upon reasonable request from the principal investigator or corresponding author. The data is not available publicly because analysis is ongoing and further manuscripts are being written.

Additional information

Funding

The study was funded by the World Health Organization. The funders did not participate or play a role in the design of the study, data collection, data analysis or reporting of the results.