Combining work and child care: The experiences of mothers in Accra, Ghana

Figures & data

Table 1. Themes and sub-themes identified in the interviews.

Themes	Subthemes
Conflict between economic activity and childcare	Breastfeeding
	Sickness
	Withdrawal
Strain and the working mother	Deficiency of time
	Economic stagnation
Work as a means to provide
Outcomes of roles	Maternal well-being
	Child well-being

Table 2. Summary characteristics of participants (n = 24).

Pseudonym	Age (years)	Marital status	Education	Age of youngest child (months)	Working at time of interview	Occupation	Location of work	Primary care arrangement
Field site: Legon
Ruby	35	Married (m)	Higher	18 to 35	Working	Secretary	Office	Crèche
Faustina	30	Married (m)	Higher	6 to 17	Working	Administrative assistant	Office	Grandmother
Joana	29	Married (m)	Higher	6 to 17	Working	Research student	Office	Grandmother
Charlotte	30	Married (m)	Higher	<6	Working	Research assistant	In the home	Caring for child whilst working
Philomina	33	Married (m)	Higher	6 to 17	Not working	–	–	Not working
Elizabeth	31	Married (m)	Higher	18 to 35	Working	Consultant	Office	Grandmother
Field site: Ga Mashie
Naa	30	Married (m)	Senior secondary	18 to 35	Working	Seamstress	Workshop	Grandmother and crèche
Abigail	37	Married (m)	Vocational	18 to 35	Working	Trader	Front of home	Caring for child whilst working
Rita	31	Married (m)	None	6 to 17	Working	Trader	Market	Grandmother
Maame	28	Married (m)	Junior secondary	<6	Not working	–	–	Not working
Eva	20	Married (m)	Junior secondary	<6	Not working	–	–	Not working
Doreen	26	Never married	Senior secondary	18 to 35	Not working	–	–	Crèche
Ekua	20	Separated/divorced	Primary	6 to 17	Not working	–	–	Not working
Delali	24	Married (m)	Junior secondary	<6	Working	Trader	Market	Caring for child whilst working
Shiella	33	Married (m)	Vocational	6 to 17	Working	Cleaner and beverage seller	Office/outside the home	Grandmother
Field site: Nima
Grace	32	Married (m)	Primary	18 to 35	Working	Trader	Roadside	Caring for child whilst working
Atiyah	29	Never married	Junior secondary	18 to 35	Working	Seamstress	Market	Grandmother
Esi	37	Married (m)	Primary	6 to 17	Working	Trader	Front of home	Caring for child whilst working
Rosemary	30	Married (m)	Junior secondary	<6	Not working	–	–	Not working
Samira	19	Never married	Junior secondary	18 to 35	Working	Launder	In the home	Grandmother
Morowa	32	Married (p)	Primary	18 to 35	Not working	–	–	Not working
Samihah	28	Never married	Junior secondary	18 to 35	Working	Seamstress	Market	Grandmother and crèche
Esther	27	Married (m)	Primary	<6	Not working	–	–	Not working
Matilda	34	Married (m)	None	6 to 17	Working	Trader	Front of home	Caring for child whilst working

Notes: Married (m) = monogamous, married (p) = polygamous. All women had been working prior to giving birth to their youngest child; occupation and place of work shown for those working at the time of the interview.