‘The Hidden Strain’: How African Mothers Balance Work, Family, and Mental Health
In Africa, motherhood is revered as a core part of a woman’s identity. Cultural norms celebrate mothers as the pillars of families and society. Yet, behind this deep-seated respect lies a profound challenge: balancing work and family responsibilities. African working mothers often bear a "hidden strain" that profoundly impacts their mental health, exacerbated by societal expectations and economic pressures. In this article, we explore how this balancing act affects African mothers and what can be done to support them.
Source: Freepik
The Silent Mental Health Crisis
Mental health remains an under-discussed issue for African mothers. A study led by Dung Ezekiel Jidong and his colleagues in Nigeria reveals that many mothers experience significant psychological distress due to the overwhelming pressures of childcare, financial burdens, and societal expectations. Mothers are often expected to manage both work and family seamlessly, with little to no acknowledgment of the emotional toll this takes. According to the study, many mothers experience postnatal depression and anxiety but are hesitant to seek help due to the stigma around mental health in many African communities. The cultural expectation of resilience can prevent them from openly discussing these challenges, leaving many to struggle in silence.
Source: Freepik
In Nigeria, for example, mental health services are scarce, especially in rural areas, and the stigma surrounding seeking professional help is still widespread. This situation is mirrored across many African nations, where mental health support for mothers is either underfunded or inaccessible. With the additional pressures of employment and household management, these mothers experience mental strain that often goes unrecognized and untreated, leading to long-term health challenges that affect both the mothers and their families.
Economic Pressure and Its Impact
Sub-Saharan Africa boasts some of the highest rates of female labor participation in the world, with over 61% of women contributing to economic activities. Yet, according to research by Philippa Waterhouse and her team, published in The Palgrave Handbook of Global Social Problems, the majority of these women work in the informal sector, where protections such as maternity leave and affordable childcare are limited or non-existent. Without these critical resources, working mothers are caught in a precarious balancing act between providing financially for their families and meeting their caregiving responsibilities. This often leads to high levels of stress and burnout.
In many African countries, traditional family structures, where extended families would assist with childcare, are weakening, particularly in urban areas. Urbanization has led to the nuclear family becoming more common, leaving mothers with fewer resources to share the burden of childcare. Studies from Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa confirm that many women are left with no choice but to work while also caring for their children, often in difficult conditions. This dynamic leads to a strain not only on their mental health but also on their productivity and financial stability.
Without formal childcare systems, many mothers have to rely on informal solutions or stop working altogether. This further contributes to their economic vulnerability and undermines the financial independence they seek through employment.
Why Social Protection is Key
Despite the critical role that working mothers play in Africa’s economies, social protections remain woefully inadequate. Maternity leave policies in many countries are either insufficient or poorly enforced, and affordable childcare is often inaccessible. This lack of support forces many mothers to reduce their working hours or drop out of the workforce entirely, with long-term consequences for both their financial security and overall well-being.
The absence of workplace policies that account for the dual role of caregiver and breadwinner exacerbates the stress that many working mothers experience. Countries like South Africa have made some progress in implementing maternity leave laws, but the informal sector—which employs a large portion of working mothers—remains largely outside the scope of these protections.
To effectively support African mothers, governments and employers need to prioritize policies that allow women to balance their roles as workers and caregivers. Extending maternity leave, offering flexible work hours, and providing mental health support are crucial steps in reducing the burden on mothers. Additionally, expanding access to affordable childcare would enable more women to remain in the workforce without sacrificing their family responsibilities.
African mothers carry an immense load as they balance work and family without sufficient support systems. The economic pressures they face, combined with the cultural expectations surrounding motherhood, create a challenging environment that takes a significant toll on their mental health. To fully unlock the potential of African women in the workforce, both businesses and governments must take steps to address this hidden strain.
By investing in mental health support, expanding maternity protections, and creating more flexible workplace policies, African societies can empower working mothers to succeed in all aspects of their lives. This investment not only benefits mothers but also strengthens families, communities, and economies as a whole.
