Pre- & Post Natal Care

Why is inadequate pre and post natal care a health risk for women workers?

Women between the ages of 18–25 comprise the vast majority of workers in the manufacturing industry. These women are at their peak reproductive age and are either future mothers or young mothers. Pregnancy for female factory workers carries rights implications around restricted job responsibilities and maternity leave, in addition to time-off allocation to receive critical pre- and post-natal health care. Their location in the urban setting makes it easier for these women to access such care and increases their likelihood of giving birth with a skilled attendant, however a lack of knowledge of rights and resources available to them limits female workers’ uptake of these opportunities.

What is HERproject doing to address this risk?

HERproject has specific training modules on pre- and post-natal care as well as rights entitlements for pregnant women within the factory setting. The module covers nutrition for expectant mothers, pre-natal check-ups and vaccinations, and infant and post-natal care. Healthy timing and spacing of pregnancy through the use of modern contraceptive methods is another critical component of this module. Learning about pre- and post-natal care through HERproject led women in one participating factory in Mexico to ask factory management for in-house pregnancy and child care counseling.