A recent survey conducted by research firm Konfidants has revealed that 46% of women cite pregnancy as the primary reason for altering their career paths. Other significant factors include extremely painful menstrual periods and miscarriages, highlighting the impact of reproductive health challenges on women’s professional lives.
The findings, presented on Thursday, March 27, underscore the struggles women face in balancing their careers with reproductive health issues.
Gender and Inclusion Advisor Adadzewa Otoo, who presented the report, emphasized the profound effect of these challenges on career decisions.
“So, we see pregnancy as the number one cause for women having to decide on their career. Pregnancy ranks first, followed by very painful menstruation. Some interesting responses from participants included abortion and prolonged bleeding due to PCOS, which is linked to dysmenorrhea or painful menstruation,” she explained.
She also highlighted the prevalence of postpartum depression and other postnatal complications, which are often overlooked but significantly impact women’s well-being and career trajectories.
“One respondent mentioned postpartum depression, which I think is something we do not talk about enough, yet a lot of women go through it. Another person cited postnatal complications as a key factor in career decisions,” she added.
In response to these findings, Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) representative Nora Bannerman-Abbott called on businesses to take proactive measures in addressing women’s health challenges in the workplace.
She outlined the development of workplace policies tailored to accommodate women’s health needs and encouraged women to form welfare committees to advocate for better workplace support structures as two key strategies to support women.
“The first action we took was developing policies. These policies provide our women employees with the recognition they need. Once you have specific policies in place as part of your business organization, employees appreciate that they are valued and that their unique needs are acknowledged,” Bannerman-Abbott stated.
She further stressed the importance of welfare committees in creating a supportive environment for women, particularly those who may be hesitant to voice their concerns.
“So, there are always these conversations happening within the committees. You will notice that during the research, some women were shy or reluctant to speak about their experiences. Within the welfare committees, some more outspoken individuals can bring forth the concerns of others,” she added.