Abstract
Background. Despite significant demographic and societal shifts in Iran, including a threefold increase in women's workforce participation over recent decades, the specific challenges faced by employed mothers with young children remain largely under-recognized. This policy brief addresses the issues and difficulties encountered by pregnant women and mothers with young children employed at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. This policy brief examines these challenges and proposes recommendations to improve maternal and child support policies and services within the university's workplace. The research aims to provide actionable insights for developing more supportive and effective policies for working mothers and their families.
Methods. This policy brief is based on evidence from a previously approved research project titled “Investigating the Challenges of Pregnant Women or Mothers with Young Children Working at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences." The research employed a mixed-methods approach, including qualitative and quantitative phases. In the qualitative phase, a semi-structured questionnaire was administered via telephone interviews to a sample of pregnant women or mothers with children working at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Participants, representing women aged 15 to 54 with prior marital history, were recruited based on their willingness to participate. Data collection continued until data saturation was achieved. The quantitative phase involved completing a relevant questionnaire for the participants in the cohort study of the staff.
Results. The research identified several key policy options for improving the working conditions of employed mothers or mothers with young children, including: development of workplace support programs through establishing designated breastfeeding spaces and offering flexible working hours, enhancing awareness through educational programs, facilitating access to healthcare services, conducting pilot projects and experiments, ensuring full implementation of the Population Growth Law and mandating the private sector to comply with it and modifying some of the existing laws.
Conclusion. This policy brief highlights the critical need for supportive policies that foster individual capabilities, particularly for mothers and children. A capability-based approach, emphasizing choice and opportunity, is recommended. Specifically, it is proposed that maternity leave benefits be fully funded and that government support for parents be significantly strengthened.