WORK-LIFE BALANCE AMONG MEDICAL PRACTIONER IN SELECTED HEALTH INSTITUTION IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

 Dr. Ajayi Mofoluwake¹, Dr. Adeusi Susan² Dr. Emmanuel Amoo³, Dr. Jegede Ajibade¹, Miss Tiwalade Fashoranti¹

Covenant University, Nigeria Department of Sociology¹

Covenant University, Nigeria Department of Psychology²

Covenant University, Nigeria Department of Demography and Social Statistics³

 

Abstract

In recent times there has been an increase of women’s entry into the labour market. This have led to the increase of dual earner couple in families today is what has led to the wide range of existing research on work-life balance in recent times. This study focused on the impact of work-life balance of parents on childcare with special reference to nurses in selected medical institutions. The study reflects how the shifting roles of women and the wide spread dual earner couples has led to parents reduced presence in the home and how this impacts the child in the long run. This study however investigated the role of organisations in ensuring their employees are able to balance their work and family responsibilities, by investigating work-life balance polices available in medical organisations. The research employed the use of quantitative research technique with the use of social survey. Questionnaire was administered to elicit the necessary information form respondents in 11 purposively selected medical institutions in two western-Nigeria states. The study raised four objectives which were; to examine the impact of parents reduced presence in the home on the child, identify the ways in which work-life conflict of parents affects childcare, examine the impact of parents career progression on work-life balance and examine the available and use of work-life balance policies by employees in health organisations. The study examined that for nurses who are also mothers and engage in shift duty a major challenge they face is less time spent with their children. This has a negative effect on the childcare especially in a situation where the husbands are also engaged in full time jobs. Result revealed that parents reduced presence affects the child welfare and care, career progression negatively impacts on work-life balance and that there are only a few work-life balance policies available to the employees in medical institutions based on the findings of the study. In conclusion few recommendations were made to help mothers be successful on their jobs and still be able to care for their children like they desire thus achieving work-life balance.

Keywords: work-life balance, childcare, coping strategies